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MR. MANSFIELD'S SERMONS 



ON THE 



TAVO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY 



OF THE 



FIRST CHURCH IN WENHAM. 



WITH AN APPENDIX. 



\ 



TWO 



SERMONS, 



DELIVERED ON THE 



SECOND CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSAEY 



OF THE 



ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST CHURCH, 



AND THE 



SETTLEMENT OF TliE FIRST MINISTER 



IN 



WENHAM. 



BY DANIEL MANSFIELD, 

PASTOR. 






iiublfsijeti tn request of tf;e ffiljuvcl). 



ANDOVER: 

PRINTED BY ALLEN, MORRILL AND WARD WELL. 
1845. 



In Eucla. 



The preparation of the following Discourses has been attended with no 
ordinary degree of perplexity and toil, on account of the imperfect and disor- 
dered condition of the earlier records, and the necessity of resorting to va- 
rious other sources for information. The oldest book of church records 
which has been preserved was commenced in 1674 ; and, with the exception 
of a few particulars, the records for the first thirty years, — and also for quite 
a number of years in the last century, — are wholly wanting : but the town 
records in some measure supply the deficiency. We are informed that a 
" century lecture'! was preached here, one hundred years ago; but cannot 
learn that it was ever printed or preserved : and no vestige of it is now to be 
found. Though several of the pastors of this church published sermons and 
other works, no assistance has been derived from them, or indeed from any 
of their productions, unless it be from several manuscript sermons to which 
reference is made in the Appendix. In the authors which have been consult- 
ed some discrepancies have been found, but special pains have been taken to 
correct every error; and the hope is indulged that the facts here embodied 
will be both interesting and useful, not only to the present inhabitants of this 
town, but also to those who shall come after them. 






s 



SERMON I. 



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DEUT. 32 : 7. 
Remember the bats of old, consider the tears of mant genera- 
tions; ASK THT FATHER, and HE WILL SHOW THEE ; THT ELDERS, AND 
THEY WILL TELL THEE. 

Such was the instruction given to ancient Israel at an im- 
portant period in their history. They had experienced " the 
goodness and severity of God," in a remarkable manner, but 
still continued to be an ungrateful and disobedient people. 
Having bewailed their corruptions, and pathetically expostu- 
lated with them, for thus requiting the Lord, Moses, with a 
view to their humiliation and spiritual benefit, called upon 
them to remember particular instances of their Creator's kind- 
ness to their fathers ; and gratefully to consider the won- 
derful providences, which he had mercifully wrought for their 
good. 

However different our characters and circumstances may 
be, the devout consideration of God's dealings with former 
generations, — more especially with those who, within the 
last two hundred years, have lived and died in this town, — 
may be regarded as a duty incumbent upon us ; and proper 
attention to this duty may be highly beneficial to us, not only 
by imprinting on our minds important dates and facts, which 
might otherwise be irrecoverably lost, but also by furnishing 
us with firmer confidence in an ever faithful God, and with 
new motives to engage with holy zeal and fidelity in his ser- 
vice. In prosperity, we need something to remind us of the 
perils wiiich attend us ; and in seasons of despondency and 
trial we need something to animate and encourage our hearts ; 



nI. 



— something to render us more valiant in defence of the 
truth ; — something which will incite us to seek the purity, 
peace and prosperity of the church, the glory of the Redeem- 
er and the salvation of souls. 

Though nothing very remarkable has ever occurred in this 
town, either at its first settlement or since, still many circum- 
stances and events connected with its history, especially with 
its religious history, are worthy of being remembered and 
considered. " There is something," says one, " so natural 
in inquiring into the history of those who have lived before 
us, and particularly those with whom we have any connec- 
tion, either by the ties of relation or place, that it is surprising 
any one should be found, by whom the subject is regarded 
with indifference." It is reasonable to suppose, that scenes 
through which our fathers passed, and which deeply interest- 
ed them, should also interest us. 

It is the prerogative of God, to bring good out of evil, and 
in his infinite wisdom, he often, by means apparently the most 
unpropitious, accomplishes his " purposes of mercy and erects 
monuments of praise to his name." It was by means of per- 
secution, as you are aware, both in church and State, that our 
beloved land and even our own town, was peopled with learn 
ed and pious men, and furnished with the inestimable bless- 
ings of civilization, literature and religion. Near the com- 
mencement of the seventeenth century, the English sove- 
reigns maintained a despotic power over the consciences and 
lives of their subjects. All who dissented from the national 
creed established by law were severely persecuted. The 
avowed opinion then adopted by ecclesiastical as well as politi- 
cal rulers was, that " uniformity in religion was essential to the 
peace of society, and that it was therefore the right and duty 
of every sovereign, to maintain it in his dominions by the 
force of law and punishment." In the north of England 
were some eminent Christians, called Puritans on account 
of their efforts to preserve purity in religious worship, who 



were so persecuted for their religion, that they felt obliged to 
seek refuge in some foreign land. A small company of them 
entered into a solemn covenant " to walk with God and one 
another, in the enjoyment of the ordinances of God, accord- 
ing to the primitive pattern, whatever it might cost them." 
Others soon followed their example ; and from time to time, 
ministers distinguished for their piety and learning, with some 
of the most devout members of their churches emigrated and 
settled in remote places, where they could quietly worship 
God according to the dictates of their own consciences and 
divine truth. 

In the infamous reign of Queen Mary, there were in the 
county of Suffolk, six brothers, by the name of Fisk, three of 
whom were Papists and three were Protestants or Puritans. 
All of the latter were disowned by the former, and two were 
sorely persecuted. For one of these the civil officer had 
such a regard, that he secretly gave him previous notice of 
his coming with an order to seize him ; whereupon the good 
man first called his family to prayer, and then hastened away 
to hide himself with his godly wife and infant child in a 
ditch, where they remained undiscovered. Another of these 
brothers, to avoid being burnt, was hid many months in a 
wood-pile ; and afterwards for six months in a cellar where he 
diligently employed himself in profitable manufactures by 
candle-light, and thus remained concealed from his foes. 
But his many hardships produced " excessive bleeding " which 
brought him to a premature grave. 

That man was the father of the first pastor of this church. 
He left four children, of whom John was the eldest, and was 
born in the parish of St. James about the year 1601. His 
parents, grand-parents and great-grand-parents were emi- 
nently worthy, pious and zealous in the true religion. He 
was early devoted to God and to the service of Christ by his 
parents, who, after carefully instructing him at home, sent 
him to a grammar-school, where he was fitted for the univer- 



sity. He then entered Immanuel College, Cambridge, where 
he graduated ; and after studying theology, he for several 
years employed himself in the work of the gospel ministry. 
But on account of the severe restrictions upon non-conform- 
ists, and the severities he suffered for preaching, he followed 
the advice of his friends, turned his attention to the study of 
medicine and became a licensed practitioner. At the age of 
twenty-eight he married a lady of high rank and of uncom- 
mon worth. On the death of his father, who had commit- 
ted to his care his mother, two sisters and a young brother, 
he thought it his duty to remove with them to America, in 
order quietly to resume the labors of the ministry. Making 
many sacrifices, — not the least of which was the denial of 
several hundred pounds of his wife's patrimony by her father, 
who was displeased at their removal, and leaving many endear- 
ed friends, he with another excellent clergyman,* embarked in 
disguise to avoid the fury of their persecutors. On the voy- 
age. Cotton Mather says, " They entertained the passengers 
with two sermons every day, besides other agreeable devo- 
tions, which filled the voyage with so much of religion that 
one of the passengers, being examined about his going to di- 
vert himself with an hook and line on the Lord's day, pro- 
tested that he did not know when the Lord's day ivas ; he 
thought every day was a Sabbath day ; for, he said, they 
did nothing but pray and preach all the week long." 

Mr. Fisk arrived in this country in 1637. His aged mother 
died on the passage, and his only child soon after he came 
ashore. He brought with him servants, tools for husbandry 
and carpentry, and provisions sufficient, it is said, to support 
his family three years in the wilderness. Of these he kindly 
lent a considerable quantity to the natives whom he found 
embarrassed and distressed in a war with the Pequot Indians. 
Mr. Fisk was soon admitted a freeman of the colony ; and, 
after teaching school for a time in Cambridge, he resided 

* Mr. John Allin (or Allen), the first minister in Dedham. 



about four years in Salem, where he assisted the celebrated 
Hugh Peters in preaching, and taught the first grammar school 
ever established in that city. One of his pupils was Sir George 
Downing, a member of the first class of graduates of Harvard 
College. 

That Mr. Fisk's literary attainments were more than ordi- 
nary may be inferred from the fact that his scholars, before 
being admitted to college, must be able to " read any classical 
authors into English, and readily make and speak true Latin, 
and write it in verse as well as prose ; and perfectly decline 
the paradigms of nouns and verbs in the Greek tongue." 

From Salem Mr. Fisk removed, in 1643, to this place, 
which was, previous to that year, a part of Salem, called Enon, 
and had then been settled about four years.* Here he was 
instrumental in gathering a church, which was regularly or- 
ganized on the Sth of Oct. 1644. He then became its pastor, 
and continued here more than twelve years, contented with a 
small salary, but ' drawing largely from his own estate for the 
benefit of the new plantation.' That his people cherished a 
high regard for the institutions of religion, especially for the 
Christian ministry, and were willing to make sacrifices to 
support the preached gospel and to retain their beloved pas- 
tor is evident from the brief records made as early as 1654, 
when it seems Mr. Fisk thought of leaving. 

A more liberal maintenance was then voted, and a com- 
mittee of three chosen to visit a Mr. Miller and give him a 
call to supply in case Mr. Fisk should leave. He however 
remained nearly two years longer, or till 1656, when he re- 
moved, with the hiajority of his church, to Chelmsford, where 
he spent the rest of his life in the active performance of duty, 
both as a minister and physician. " For twenty years," 
says Mather, " did he shine in the golden candlestick of 
Chelmsford ; a plain, but an able, painful and useful preacher 
of the gospel ; rarely if ever by sickness hindered from the 

* See Appendix, A. 



8 

exercise of his ministry :" ' in the course of which he ex- 
pounded almost the whole of the word of God.' And " though 
he did himself compose and publish a most useful catechism, 
which he entitled ' The Olive Plants watered,^ yet he chose 
the Assembly's Catechism for his public expositions, where- 
with he twice went over it in discourses before his afternoon 
sermons on the sabbath." 

" Of the afflictions which disciplined him," says the same 
quaint writer, " one of the saddest was the loss of his con- 
cordance ; I mean of his godly and worthy consort, who, by 
her incomparable expertness in the Scriptures had rendered 
any other concordance of the Bible useless unto his library. 
This virtuous woman lost her sight for some years before she 
died ; under which disaster a most exemplary patience was 
produced in her, by her view of the things which are not seen 
and are eternal ; and at length, after many admonitions unto 
her friends to improve their sight well whilst they had it, she 
had, on Feb. 14, 1671, her eyes opened by their being closed ; 
and was, by death, carried from faith into immediate and 
everlasting sight ; after which he married again." Near the 
close of his life, Mr. Fisk was severely afflicted by several dis- 
eases. " Yea, for a complication of maladies, his condition 
became not unlike the blessed Calvin's, of whom the historian 
relates, that ' he was troubled with as many infirmities as, in 
different subjects, might have supplied an hospital.' " For 
many sabbaths he was carried to the house of God in a chair, 
and preached sitting, till he was seized with convulsions, and 
died, Jan. 14, 1676, aged seventy-five ; having first blessed 
his four children, two sons and two daughters, who were by 
his bed-side waiting for his blessing. " You are," he said, 
" as a shock of corn bound up, or as twins made beautiful by 
the covenant of grace. You have an interest in the sure 
mercies of David ; these you have to live upon. Study to 
emulate one another ; but in the best, in the best. Provoke 
one another to love. The God of your forefathers bless you 



all." And added unto his younger son (who was afterwards 
a worthy pastor in Braintree), concerning his wife and his two 
children then absent, " the God of Abraham, Isaac and Ja- 
cob bless you and your posterity after you." 

Thus lived and died the first pastor of this church. 

In respect to this venerable and godly man, the mayor of 
Salem, in a public address in 1842, remarked, " We may all 
well be proud of the honest fame of the first teacher of our 
grammar school. He was, by the concurrent testimony of the 
most learned and honored of his day and generation, ranked 
high in the list of able, useful and devoted ministers of the 
gospel. In the homely but enthusiastic language of the day : 

'Spotless his pulpit, and his sermons quaint, 
A finished preacher, and an equal saint ; 
His preaching much, but more his practice wrought 
A living sermon of the truths he taught.' 

In harmony with the preceding are the following remarks 
by Mather : " Among the most famous preachers and writers 
of the gospel with which the primitive church was blessed, 
there was Luke, the beloved physician, the blessed scholar 
and colleague of the apostle Paul. And among the first 
preachers and writers which rendered the primitive times of 
New England happy, there was one who might likewise be 
called a beloved physician ; one to whom there might also be 
given the eulogy which the ancients think was given to Luke 
— a brother whose praise was in the gospel throughout all 
the churches. This was Mr. John Fisk." 

After the removal of Mr. Fisk, with so large a portion of his 
church, those who remained, though in a low condition, did 
not yield to discouragement or despair. We have good rea- 
son to believe that they continued to exist and act as a church, 
notwithstanding the opinion of some to the contrary. 

Commendable and successful exertions were soon made to 
secure the stated ministrations of the gospel, as appears from 
the following record : " At a town meeting, this 6th of 

2 



10 

i2th month, 1656" (the very year of Mr. Fisk's removal) — 
"Whereas the town hath taken into consideration the great 
want of a minister amongst us ; it's therefore ordered that 
Mr. Gott and James* Moulton are hereby chosen to en- 
deavor to procure a minister, and to present him with the 
promise of forty-five pounds a year for his yearly maintenance." 
That was five pounds more than had previously been given 
when the whole church and town were together, and evinces 
their high estimation of religious ordinances, their ardent love 
for the truth. 

They were kindly remembered by the great Head of the 
church, and soon obtained the Rev. Antipas Newman to labor 
among them as their minister.f He commenced preaching 
here in 1657; was married in 1658 to Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of Gov. Winthrop ; but was not ordained before Dec. 3, 
1663. 

A copy of the covenant then adopted and signed by the pas- 
tor and nine others, has been preserved, and may be found 
in the brief history of the church which was printed, with the 
confession of faith and covenant, in 1840. 

About this time (1663) the people were engaged in erect- 
ing a new house for the public worship of God. This had 
been attempted several times before, but little had been done 
except to repair the old house. 

* Special care was then taken to give no titles except to persons of consider- 
able distinction. In a list of one hundred freemen, we do not find more than 
four or five distinguished by Mr., though most of them were men of respectability 
and worth. 

t 8th Nov. 1657, at a to'v\Ti meeting, it was agreed by unanimous consent, that 
!Mr. Newman's payment be one half in wheat or equivalent thereto, and the other 
half in Indian com at merchantable price. In a similar way was the salary of 
the mmister paid for several years, on account of the great scarcity of money ; 
as is common in new settlements, where the people liave but little to sell and 
much to buy. Soon after, it was " unanimously voted that the town shall allow 
towards Mr. Newman's house the sum of forty pounds sterling, and ten pounds 
more towards the procuring of other accommodations." After that, fifty pounds 
were voted to Mr. Ne'wman, and other favors were conferred by voluntary sub- 
scription. 



11 

After diligent search I have been able to find but little re- 
specting the life and character of Mr. Newman. lie is sup- 
posed to have been the son of Rev. Samuel Newman, who 
was born at Banbury, Eng. of a family eminent for tlieir at- 
tachment to the Protestant religion, and for their piety. This 
distinguished man was educated at Oxford, and subsequently 
became an able minister of Ciirist. But suffering persecution 
from the " prevailing hierarchy," being deprived of his lib- 
erty to preach, and compelled to remove no less than seven 
times ; he, in 1638, came to America. Having spent a year 
and a half at Dorchester, and five years at Weymouth, he 
passed the last nineteen years of his life at Rehoboth, which 
name he gave to that town, because his flock, which were be- 
fore straitened for want of room, then could say, " The Lord 
hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."* 
He is said to have been a hard student, a lively and faithful 
preacher, possessing an ardent love for the sacred Scriptures, 
and uncommon piety. Before leaving England he compiled 
a concordance of the Bible, which was published in London, 
and was more elaborate than any ever before seen in Europe. 
After he came to New England, he greatly improved that 
work by adding many texts and the marginal readings, so 
that it was pronounced superior to any in the English lan- 
guage. The manner of his death, which occurred in 1663 
(the year of his son's ordination in this place), was peculiar. 
He had a singular premonition of its approach, and antici- 
pated it with joy. While apparently in perfect health, he 
prepared and preached a sermon from Job 14: 14 — " If a man 
die shall he live again ? All the days of my appointed time 
will I wait, till my change come." This proved to be his 
last sermon. He immediately became ill, and on the next 
sabbath asked a good deacon of the church to pray with him. 
No sooner had the prayer ended, than he said the time had 
come for him to leave the world, adding, " And now ye an- 



* Gen. 26: 22. 



12 

gels of the Lord Jesus Christ, come, do your office !" With 
these words on his hps, the spirit of that excellent man in- 
stantly took its flight to join the innumerable company of an- 
gels and the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven. It 
is reasonable to suppose that the son of such a man would be 
one of no ordinary worth ; and we have reason to believe that 
the second pastor of this church possessed great moral excel- 
lence, which secured for him the esteem and affection of his 
people and of all who knew him. He died Oct. 15, 1672, 
having been pastor of this church nearly nine years, and hav- 
ing labored here in the ministry about fifteen years.* 

Soon after Mr. Newman's death, exertions were made to 
obtain a successor ; and in a few months the Rev. Joseph 
Gerrish commenced preaching here, and eventually accepted 
an invitation to the pastoral office.f Mr. G. was born in 
Newbury, March 23, 1650, graduated at Harvard College in 
1669, studied theology with Rev. Thomas Parker of Newbury, 
came here to preach May 25, 1673, was ordained Jan. 13, 
1674, and remained acting pastor of this church till his death. 
Under his faithful ministrations, the church and society en- 
joyed a high degree of prosperity. About the time of his set- 
tlement, a parsonage house was built for his accommodation, 
and for a season he appeared to be unmolested and happy 
among the people of his charge. But it was not long before 
he, in common with others in this region, was called to expe- 
rience severe trials on account of civil commotions abroad. 
In 1675 the memorable war occurred with the Indians, called 
'• King Phillip's war," which was the most general and de- 
structive of any ever sustained by the infant colonies. Dur- 
ing the following winter, the celebrated expedition against the 

* We regret that no stone was ever erected at Mr. Newman's grave ; and 
that we are consequently unable to designate the precise spot Avliere he was in- 
terred ; though it is supposed to he very near Mr. Swain's grave. He left a wife 
and five children. She was afterwards maiTied to Mr. Zenibbabel, son of gov- 
ernor Endicott, of Salem. 

t See Appendix, B. 



13 

Narragansetts took place ; and by order of the commissioners 
of the United colonies, a thousand men, six companies from 
Massachusetts, with a troop of horse, were raised for that ser- 
vice. Of that number five men were impressed from Wen- 
ham (Nov. 30, 1675), viz. Mark Batchelder, Richard Hutten, 
Thomas Kimball, Samuel Moulton and Philip Welsh. On 
the 19th of Dec. Mark Batchelder was killed, being of Capt. 
Jos. Gardner's company, who was from Salem, and was 
killed at the same time in an attack on the enemy's fort. 

The influence of such events, could not be otherwise than 
unhappy upon the religious interests of the people. But 
amidst all these calamities, Mr. Gerrish seems to have been 
diligently employed in efforts to promote the spiritual pros- 
perity of his flock. Though often called to aid in organizing 
churches and ordaining pastors in the neighboring towns, he 
did not neglect his own church. Cases of discipline received 
special attention. About this period a practice, common in 
other churches, was introduced into this church, and proved a 
serious interruption to its peace and prosperity for many years. 
I refer to what was termed the " half-way covenant ;" — or the 
admission of unconverted persons into the church, upon certain 
conditions, and allowing them to act in ecclesiastical matters 
and to enjoy certain privileges in common with Christians. 
This was a scheme devised by a synod assembled in 1662 to 
determine who were the proper subjects of baptism. They 
decided that " persons baptized in infancy, understanding 
the doctrine of faith and publicly professing their assent 
thereto, not scandalous in life and solemnly owning the cove- 
nant before the church wherein they give up themselves and 
their children to the Lord, and subject themselves to the gov- 
ernment of Christ in his church, their children are to be bap- 
tized ;" — though the parent thus owning the covenant was still 
unconverted, and as such, excluded from the Lord's supper. 
Hence many unregenerate persons were induced thus to own 



14 

the covenant and to have their children baptized * In nume- 
rous places, this practice was immediately adopted, and after 
a violent controversy, it became general, though some of the 
best ministers and churches opposed it, — regarding it unscrip- 
tural and unsafe, tending to prevent needful discipline ; — to 
injure and ruin souls. To guard against such evils in this 
church, the following document found on record in his hand 
writing, was probably prepared by Mr. Gerrish, and evinces 
his watchful regard for the spiritual prosperity of his people. 
It is called, " A form for such as own the covenant and 
ofier their children to baptism : viz., No man can sincerely 
dedicate his child to the God he believes not in himself. 
Therefore, 1. Do you believe the God we worship to be the 
only true God, who is made known to us in the Holy Scrip- 
tures by the name of God the Father, God the Son and God 
the Holy Ghost. And do you publicly own and take this 
one God, in three persons, to be your God according to the 
tenor of the covenant of grace, wherein he hath promised to 
be a God to the faithful and their seed after them in their 
generations, and taketh them to be his people. 2. You do 
promise subjection to his revealed will, and that you will en- 
deavor (grace assisting), to renounce those things which are 
inconsistent with his service and this your profession. 3. 
You do now solemnly renew your baptismal covenant with 
God, and do give up yourself and your posterity to God the 
Father, Son and Holy Ghost, as your Creator, Redeemer and 
Sanctifier. 4. You do present your child unto God to be 
baptized into this faith, and solemnly engaged in this cove- 
nant and do promise (God helping) that if God shall con- 
tinue it to you till it come to years of discretion, that you will 
faithfully endeavor to acquaint this child in the nature and 
benefits of this covenant, and will bring it up in the holy 

* " The half-way covenant originated, in part, in the unreasonable and 
strange rule early adopted by our fathers, that none should be admitted to 
the privilege of freemen, or be eligible to office who were not church-mem- 
bers. Many of course sought to join the church in order to get into office." 



15 

fear, nurture and admonition of the Lord, as you hope to re- 
ceive the blessing and escape the curse of the covenant. 5. 
Finally, You do give up yourself to this church, according to 
the will of God, engaging (God assisting you) you will walk 
as becomes this your profession, subjecting yourself to Christ, 
our head, and to the ministerial teaching, guidance and over- 
sight of the elders of it and discipline therein, and to the 
brotherly watch of fellow-members, and all this according to 
God's word, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Ciirist enabling 
you thereunto." 

Li every church there are seasons when Christians become 
so worldly-minded, so neglectful of religious duties, while 
their enemies are so zealous in efforts to destroy souls, that 
special exertions are demanded, — some extra means to revive 
the people of God and to check the progress of error among 
them, and abroad in the land. Thus it was with the mem- 
bers of this church in 1705, when by agreement of the 
church at a meeting on the twentieth of July, they did " sol- 
emnly renew their covenant in manner following, viz. 

" We the communicants of the church at Wenham, being 
under a deep sense of the distress of the church of God in 
general, and of the heavy and wasting judgments which have 
been on this land, and in pursuance of divers declarations 
recommended to us by our much honored and well-affected 
rulers, exhorting all well-minded persons among us to do their 
utmost to check and suppress the growing immoralities and 
profaneness too manifest in the midst of us; and to endeavor 
to promote the necessary and much desired work of reforma- 
tion in ourselves, ours and others. As one proper means 
among others, we do agree and purpose (divine grace help- 
ing and encouraging) vigorously and resolvedly to set our- 
selves in our several capacities and relations to detect, prose- 
cute and reform the growing enormities that are the enemies 
of our peace, and dishonor of our profession and religion. 1. 
We will more strictly watch over our own hearts and lives, 



16 

that we may become more exemplary and inoffensive in our 
conversation toward God and men. 

2. We will faithfully watch over one another and submit 
ourselves to the brotherly counsels and admonitions which 
may charitably and regularly be given, one to and from an- 
other, to ourselves or ours, as occasion may be offered. 

3. In particular, we will take heed of the love of the 
world, that it cause us not to neglect our duty to God in our 
general calling, or abate the zeal and care which we should 
have of the glory of God. 4. We will draw near to God in 
his ordinances, we will not indulge ourselves in formality and 
drowsiness in the worship of God. Nor will we allow our- 
selves or ours in sensuality, intemperance, or excess in meats, 
drinks or apparel. 5. That we will more strictly guard our 
thoughts, words and actions on the Lord's day, and will en- 
deavor to restrain all within our gates from profaning any 
part of it. 

6. We will more carefully inspect the manners of our 
families, and endeavor to command our children and house- 
holds after us to serve the Lord. 

7. We will without partiality bear our testimony against 
such transgressions and enormities as shall fall within our ob- 
servation. 

If so be, by these or other means, we may promote the 
glorious work of reformation and obtain the removal of God's 
wasting judgments we labor under, and the averting of omens 
impending, and the return of God's gracious presence, with 
the restoration of his wonted favors and blessings as in for- 
mer times, we may be happy. 

On the 22d of July, 1705, after the communion at the 
Lord's table, this covenant was read and the consent and as- 
sent of the communicants was manifested ; — The brethren, 
by holding up their hands and the sisters by rising and stand- 
ing up." March 31, 1706, it was read again after sacra- 
ment — and again at a church-meeting, April 7, 1710. 



17 

It may be interesting for us to notice the particularity and 
kind Christian feehng with which, at that early day, members 
of this church were dismissed and recommended to the fel- 
lowship of other churches. The following is a specimen : 
"To the Rev. Mr. John Higginson, pastor, and to our be- 
loved brethren in the church of Christ at Salem, grace, mercy 
and peace be multiplied in Jesus Christ, your Lord and ours. 
Whereas that wise Providence of ours, who boundeth all our 
habitations, hath ordered the constant abode of our sister, 
Mrs. Elizabeth Endicott,* among you, who hath desired our 
letters of recommendation to you, which her desire hath been 
propounded to the church, who have consented such letters 
should be granted to her. We do therefore commend her to 
your trust and care and holy inspection in the Lord, desiring 
you to watch over her as becometh saints ; accepting her in- 
to your love and communion, and to show all Christian re- 
spect and kindness to her, tending and helping her on in her 
pilgrim condition, till she come to the blessed city and country 
and blessed Father's house, in a state of glory, whither our 
desires and endeavors and yours are to come. So commend- 
ing this our sister, together with yourselves, to the gjjidance 
and blessing of the Almighty, resting yours in Christ Jesus. 
With consent of the Brethren,— 3d of 3d, 1678. J. G."t 

Oct. 3, 1714, eleven males and seventeen females, with 

* Widow of Rev. Antipas Newman. 

t The following is a form of "Absolution." — " Though you have greatly 
sinned against the Lord, this church, and your own soul; yet, seeing you 
humble yourself before God and penitently fly to the Lord Jesus Christ for 
mercy, resolving (through grace) to do so no more, we are to tell you, as in 
John 2: ], 2 and 1 John 1: 9. Isa. 55: 7, 8. Prov.2.S: 13. This church doth 
now loose the bonds laid upon you, and receive you again into their commu- 
nion ; who are to receive you and not upbraid you with your fall, but re- 
joice in your recovery. And we e.xhort and cliarge you that you watch 
more carefully for the future, and that you avoid temptations and accept re- 
proofs, and see that you turn not again to your former ways of sin, but obey 
the Spirit and keep close to God in the means of your preservation. So help 
you God in Christ Jesus our Lord." 



18 

twenty-four " covenanters," were dismissed from this church 
to aid in forming a church in Ipswich Hamlet.* 

Subsequently to this, nothing which would be of special in- 
terest to us appears on record, previous to Mr. Gerrish's death, 
though he continued to discharge pastoral duties for several 
years after, and longer than any other minister ever settled in 
Wenham. But from the king of terrors there is no escape. 
The good, the useful and the beloved, as well as others, 
must die ; and the time approached for this beloved man to 
resign his charge and obey the summons to the tomb. After 
a few days' illness, of an apoplectic nature, he bade adieu to 
earth, Jan. 6, 1720, having nearly completed the seventieth 
year of his age, and the forty-sixth of his ministry in this place. 
Under his ministry, 987 persons were baptized ; 236 " owned 
the covenant;" and 213 entered into full communion with 
this church. No record of marriages is found, and the record 
of deaths is imperfect. That Mr. Gerrish cherished a deep 
sense of the solemn responsibilities of an ambassador for Christ, 
and realized, in a good degree, the importance of being faith- 
ful to his trust ; that ardent love to the Saviour and to souls 
influenced his heart and life, prompting him habitually to seek 
the spiritual welfare of his flock and the glory of God, is 
abundantly evident. The oldest church records which I have 
found, were carefully made and preserved by him in a small 
book,f on the first page of which he wrote as follows : 
" The function of the ministry is holy. 

The charge is great. 

The discharge is difficult. 

The requisites are many. 

The consequence is dangerous." 

* Now Hamilton. 

t This book appears to have been lost for many years. On a blank leaf is 
the following, in the hand-writing of Rev. Mr. Anderson : " Marblehead, 
Sept. 4, 1809. This day this book was received from the hand of Rev. Isaac 
Mansfield of this town, who is grandson of the Rev. Mr. Cheever, formerly 
of Manchester, and great-grandson of Rev. Joseph Gerrish, formerly of Wen- 
ham, by Rufus Anderson." 



19 

" Be well advised in the choice of a minister. Lay hands 
suddenly on no man ; on no green head. In your choice 
look mainly at the glory of God and the gospel, and at the 
eternal good of your own souls and the souls of posterity. 
Don't choose to save your purses ; nor in opposition to others. 
Unite and agree ; or, otherwise, though you are an able yet 
you will prove a miserable people. Seek God in and for a 
right way. Pray the Lord of the harvest to fit and send forth 
a meet laborer among you, one who may have a double por- 
tion of the spirit of that Elijah which God hath taken from 
you. Choose one whom you may honor and who may be an 
honor to you." 

A brief description of Mr. Gerrish's character is found in 
a printed sermon, preached on occasion of his death, by the 
Rev. Cotton Mather, D. D. of Boston, from Prov. 12: 26, 
" The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor." At 
the commencement he says : 

" Before my sermon is finished, you will hear the name of 
a righteous man, in whom you will have my text particularly 
exemplified. But the character of a righteous man in gene- 
ral is what we first of all take notice of." He then proceeds 
to point out the distinction between a righteous man and his 
unrighteous neighbor ; and after several pages of " Applica- 
tion," concludes in the following manner : " How can we 
see the departure of the ministers, who had a lustre among 
the righteous, without some sad apprehensions of the glory 
departing ! So much going, that was our beauty and our 
defence, and that cry not be made, My father, my father, the 
chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof! The cry is 
heard upon the death of the gracious, humble, faithful Mr. Jo- 
seph Gerrish ; a man on many accounts, but especially 
those of righteousness, more precious than fine gold, than the 
golden wedge of Ophir ; the useful minister of Wenham ; 
whom a distemper of an apoplectic aspect, arresting him as 
he was near finishing the seventieth year of his age, has newly 



20 

fetched away to the mansions which his great Saviour had 
prepared for him. He is one of the elders, who has obtained 
this good report ; that he was an holy and a righteous man ; 
a person of excellent piety ; one of a gentlemanly as well as 
religious disposition ; one of a singular goodness and sweet- 
ness in his temper ; candid, courteous, full of condescension ; 
an uncommon example of hospitality ; a singular blessing to 
the town, where God had stationed him ; which, under his 
conduct, became thrice as big as he found it, at his first 
coming to them. And his people at his death, with an uni- 
versal concurrence in expressions of their love unto him, tes- 
tified some sense thereof; testified what an esteem God had 
given him, in the hearts of those that were acquainted with him. 
Farewell, O man greatly beloved ! What remains is, — May 
his virtuous consort, a valuable mother in Israel, who had 
been happy in him for seven and forty years, now not find 
herself alone, because of her having her Saviour with her. 
May his bereaved flock, that had been happy in him for 
six and forty years, now find the compassion of our Great 
Shepherd concerned for them."* 

The remains of Mr. Gerrish lie in our grave-yard, beneath 
the reddish stone slab,f supported with brick, there to await 
the resurrection of the just. 

" Oh for the death of those 
Who skimber in the Lord ! 
Oh be like theirs my last repose, 
Like theirs my last reward." 

* See Appendix, C. 

t We lament that the inscription upon that monument is illegible. 



SERMON II 



DEUTERONOMY 32: 7. 
Eemember the days of old, consider the years of many generations. 



'! 



Soon after the death of Mr. Gerrish, the church kept a 
private fast, being aided by Rev. Messrs. Prescott of Salem 
and Chipman, of Beverly. Having spent considerable time 
in prayer for divine guidance and favor, the brethren of the, 
church voted that Wednesday, Feb. 1 0, be observed as a day 
of fasting in public, " to seek God's face and favor in their be- 
reaved state, and his blessing on their endeavors for a re-set- 
tlement, and that the congregation be desired to join with 
them in this service." 

In a few weeks, the church and town unanimously invited 
Mr. Joseph Emerson to settle with them in the work of the 
ministry, to which Mr. E. replied in the negative. A major- 
ity of the church then voted to invite Rev. Daniel Perkins to 
become their pastor ; biit at a subsequent meeting " an un- 
happy division arose about the salary ;" upon which Mr. P. 
" absolutely refused to preach any longer at Wenham." But 
the great Shepherd and Watchman of Israel did not forget 
his people. Their supplications were heard, and Mr. Robert 
Ward, then master of a grammar-school in Charlestown and 
a native of that place, immediately came and preached his 
first sermon from Psalm 119: 133. It was not long before 
the church and town unanimously voted him a call. In ad- 
dition to this, the young men (twenty-seven in number) sent 
to Mr. W. a communication, as follows : " To Mr. Rob. 
Ward. Sir, We whose names are hereunto subscribed, liv- 
ing in W^enham, and not in a capacity to vote in town con- 



22 

cerns, do not only declare our willingness, but also our desire 
is, that you would be pleased to take up with our church and 
town's call ; and in so doing, we the subscribers shall be 
much obliged therein, and are yours to serve in whatsoever 
is duty from us to yourself. Nov. 7, 1720." ' 

(signed) James Kemball Thomas Brown 

Thomas Kemball Edward Waldron 

JosiAH White Thomas Baker 

George Thoping John Moulton 

Nath'l Kemball Joseph Tarbox 

Daniel Clafling Daniel Fairfield 

Jeremiah Perkins James Rix 

" Tho's Dodge John Kemball 

Zaccheus Goldsmith Abraham Kemball 

Daniel Killam John Dodge 

JosiAH Kemball Daniel Allen 

John Rogers Paul Kemball 

Israel Triker Robert Herrick. 
Sam'l Batchelder 

This must have been peculiarly gratifying to the pastor 
elect. For amidst the discouragements and trials, and in the 
performance of the arduous duties of the Christian ministry, 
scarcely anything is more cheering to a minister, than to see 
the young men interested in the things of religion, and ready 
to bear their part in supporting the institutions of the gospel.* 

* " Every man who loves liis country or wishes well to its best interests, 
will show himself a decided friend of religious institutions, and honorably 
bear his part in supporting them. Particularly, ought young men, as they 
come forward in life, to enrol themselves as members of some ecclesiastical so- 
ciety, and give their steady and united influence, in support of the religious 
interests of the community where they reside. They ought to do this from a 
regard to the public icetfare ; for a young man, not connected with any eccle- 
siastical society will, of course, feel very little interest in its concerns, and 
do but little to promote its prosperity. They ought also to do this from a re- 
gard to their own respectability arid vsefulness ; for if they belong to no reli- 
gious society, they will be very likely to neglect public worship and all the 



23 

Seeing this his heart is revived and he will cheerfully spend 
and be spent for their good ; — sustained by the hope that 
they will be richly blessed themselves ; become ornaments to 
society, blessings to the church and the world, and enjoy a 
bright reward in heaven. 

With such encouragement before him, we do not wonder 
that Mr. Ward should accept the invitation, — which he did 
in a few days, and was ordained Jan. 25, 1721. At the or- 
dination, Mr. Ward " preached from 2 Sam. T: 18, and pray- 
ed after sermon ; Mr. Rogers of Ipswich, gave the awful 
Charge, and Mr. Fitch the Right Hand of Fellowship." 

The church soon observed a day of private fasting and 
prayer, when Mr. Ward preached from Ezra 8: 21, To seek 
of him a right way for us ; and, after prayer, " read the 
form of a covenant drawn up by Mr. Gerrish ; and, by him, 
procured to be printed, the brethren signified their consent by 
holding up their hands, and the sisters by standing up." 

Tiie church voted to have " a public lecture once in six 
weeks, every Tuesday before the sacrament ;" and that 
" when persons desire to join in church fellowship with us, 
their relation shall be read both at the time of propounding 
and also at their admission. At which time the brethren's 
consent is to be desired." 

" Sept. 15, 1723. The church voted that Relations 
should be read but once, viz. when any were to be ad- 
mitted into the church, having stood some time propounded." 

At this period the church seem to have been in a prosper- 
ous condition, living near to God, feeling their dependence 
upon him ; and often, in a social and private manner, implor- 
ing the direction and blessing of heaven. In imitation of 
their Saviour's example, they took no important step without 

other duties of religion ; and a virtuous community is sure to mark and pun- 
ish the meanness, that is not willing to bear a fair proportion of the expense 
and care necessary in sustaining the institutions of the gospel." — Havves' 
Lectures to young men, p. 21, — an excellent little book, which should be 
read and studied by all young men. 



24 

special prayer to God. At a church meeting, e. g. April 7, 
1727, after prayer and a discourse from Eph. 4: 8, with refer- 
ence to choosing a deacon, it was voted unanimously (God 
willing) to observe a day of fasting and prayer, in private, to 
beseech the favor of God on them, that he would unite their 
hearts to fear his great name, and that he would vouchsafe 
the great blessing of early piety to their children and de- 
scendants. Almost immediately they were blessed with rich 
effusions of divine grace ; so that within one year from that 
time, fifty-six persons were admitted to full communion in the 
church, and fifteen were " admitted to own the covenant." 

But the ministry of this lovely and devoted man was com- 
paratively brief. In the midst of his days and usefulness, he 
was laid aside from his labors and called to contend with dis- 
ease ; as appears from the following record : " July 4, 1732, 
Rev. Mr. Ward being sick, a committee was chosen by the 
town to supply the pulpit, and it was voted to raise thirty 
pounds for that purpose." 

On the 19th of that month Mr. Ward, the fourth pastor of 
this church, died at the age of thirty-seven years and ten 
months. The town' showed their respect and esteem for him 
by voting to allow twenty-six pounds towards his funeral ex- 
penses. During his ministry of ten and a half years in this 
place, 216 were baptized ; 1 18 admitted to full communion ; 
75 owned the covenant; 54 couples were married; and 122 
persons died.* 

The church and congregation united in the observance of 
Aug. 23d, as a " day of fasting and prayer, seriously to implore 
the direction of Heaven in the choice of another pastor." 
A committee had been previously appointed to seek a candi- 
date and ask advice ; and in less than three months after Mr. 
Ward's death the town voted, by a great majority, to concur 
with the church in inviting Mr. John Warren to settle with 
them in the ministry. One hundred and thirty pounds were 

* See Appendix, D. 



25 

voted for a yearly salary, with a free contribution, and two 
hundred pounds for a settlement ; which was nearly three 
times the amount ever before given. 

Twenty-three pounds were also voted towards Mr. War- 
ren's ordination, which took place Jan. 10, 1733. Rev. Mr. 
Wigglesworth, pastor of the third church in Ipswich, 
preached from Heb. 13: 17 ; Rev. Mr. Rogers of Ipswich, 
gave the Charge ; and Rev. Mr. Fisk, of Salem, the Right 
Hand of fellowsiiip. 

April 30, 1733, Daniel Dodge, one of the deacons of this 
church, and a graduate of Harvard College, died at the age 
of sixty-three.* 

During the following year, the people of God seem to have 
been quickened in the divine life, and became increasingly 
solicitous for the prosperity of Zion. In the low state of re- 
ligion among them, they felt that something must be done ; 
they realized in whom was their help, and appointed a day of 
public fasting and prayer, " for the revival of religion, and 
that the blessing of God might be on the rising generation." 
Rev. Mr. Chipman prayed, and Mr. Warren preached from 
Hos. 14: 2. In the afternoon Mr. Clark prayed, and Mr. 
Wigglesworth preached from Job 22: 23. That these ser- 
vices and other means emplo}ed were blessed to the conver- 
sion of souls, may be inferred from the fact, that within the 
following year twice as many united with the church as in the 
preceding year. 

But God often visits a people in judgment, as well as in 
mercy, for their good. Thus did he visit this people in the 
year 1737, as appears from a record made of " a fast kept on 
account of a mortal disease that prevailed among the people ; 
of which there died, in a little more than three months, about 
twenty. Two families lost all their children ; viz. Mr. Rich- 
ard Dodge and Mr. John Gott ; one of which lost four and the 

* See Appendix, E. 

4 



26 

other five." Rev. Mr. Champney prayed, and Mr. Warren 
preached from Jer. 9: 21. In the afternoon Mr. Warren 
prayed, and Mr. Chipman preached from Jer. 2: 30. The 
desired effect was produced. They soon enjoyed the special 
presence of the Holy Spirit ; and during that year fifty-five 
persons were added to the church. We regret that no par- 
ticulars of that work of grace are to be found among the 
records. 

In 1740 the great revival, or, as it was then called, " the 
glorious work of God in the land," commenced in New Eng- 
land. In most of the churches the state of religion had, for 
years, been lamentably low ; very few had been added to 
them ; and " many of the ministers were exceedingly formal 
in their public services ; preached much upon moral duties, 
but left out of view the prominent doctrines of grace. Both 
ministers and churches were sunk into a state of religious 
lethargy from which no ordinary means could arouse them. 
At this time God raised up an instrument fitted for the pur- 
pose. The Rev. George Whitefield, from England, went 
through the colonies, sounding aloud the gospel trumpet, de- 
nouncing those who were at ease in Zion, and thundering the 
terrors of the Lord in the ears of the impenitent. A great 
reformation followed." But in respect to this work, ministers 
and others differed in opinion. Some opposed it on account 
of the undue excitement and irregularities by which it was un- 
fortunately attended ; but others regarded it as " a gracious 
visitation," a "glorious work of God ;" and among the names 
of distinguished and pious ministers, appended to what was 
termed " the Testimony and Advice of an Assembly of Pas- 
tors of Churches in New England, at a Meeting in Boston, 
July 7, 1743, occasioned by the late happy Revival of Reli- 
gion in many Parts of the Land;" among those names, 113 
in all, we find that of '^John Warren, pa.itor of the church in 
M^enham." From this it appears that Mr. W. regarded that 



81 

work of grace with favor, and was a true friend to revivals of 
religion. 

A very strong attachment seems to have existed between 
Mr. Warren and his people. Though his salary was much 
greater than any of his predecessors had received ; yet the 
town, in 1740, generously voted to give him thirty pounds 
more than his stated salary, as a free gift. They did the same 
the next year, and supplied the pulpit while he was sick and 
unable to preach. Tiie year following, they gave him sev- 
enty pounds more than his stated salary ; this they also did 
for three succeeding years ; then they voted one hundred 
pounds; the year after, one hundred and seventy pounds; 
and the next year (which proved to be his last), two hun- 
dred and twenty pounds, in addition to his stated salary, 
were voted for his support, whether on account of his real 
wants or on account of their peculiar esteem and affection for 
him, does not appear. 

In 1747 — 48 measures were taken to build a meeting- 
house on the spot which the old one had occupied nearly 
ninety years.* Both minister and people seem to have been 
greatly interested in the work ; but before it was completed 
Mr. Warren was removed by death. He died July 19, 1749, 
in the forty-fifth year of his age and seventeenth of his pas- 
toral relation to this church. As additional evidence of their 
high regard for him, the town supplied the pulpit during his 
long illness, and voted twenty pounds from the public treasu- 
ry to defray his funeral charges. Under his ministry here 
355 were baptized ; 146 united with the church ; 30 owned 
the covenant ; 96 couples were married ; and 189 died. 
From his epitaph we learn that Mr. Warren was born in 
Roxbury, Sept. 18, 1704, graduated at Cambridge in 1725, 
began to preach in 1727, and that while here he "was a 
burning and shining light — beloved of his brethren in the 
ministry as well as of his own flock, and deservedly lamented 

* See Appendix, F. 



28 

at his death." Mr. Warren was married, April 21, 1737, to 
Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Mr. Chipman of Beverly ; 
she survived him and became the wife of his successor. 

In a few weeks the town voted unanimously to concur 
with the church in inviting Mr. Samuel Turrell to be their 
minister ; but infinite wisdom interposed and disappointed 
their fond hopes by removing the pastor elect before he had 
given an answer to their call. He died Feb. 10, 1750. 

May 9th was very appropriately observed as a day of fast- 
ing and prayer ; — the services being performed by Rev. 
Messrs. Wigglesworth, Clark, Champney, Hobby and Emer- 
son. 

In a few days Mr. Joseph Swain of Reading received a 
unanimous invitation to settle, which he accepted, and was 
ordained Oct. 24, 1750. Rev. Mr. Perkins of the first church 
in Bridgewater preached the ordination sermon from Deut. 33: 
8 — 11, Mr. Wigglesworth of Ipswich prayed and gave the 
Charge, and Mr. Hobby of the first church in Reading gave 
the Right Hand of Fellowship. 

It was not long before Mr. Swain's labors and the peace 
and prosperity of his people were seriously interrupted by the 
calamities of war. In the war which commenced against 
France in 1754 (though not formally declared till May, 1756) 
these infant colonies, amidst great anxiety and distress, made 
preparations for vigorous exertions against the enemy. " Four 
expeditions were planned ; one against the French in Nova 
Scotia ; one against the French on the Ohio ; a third against 
Crown Point ; and a fourth against Niagara." Rev. Mr. 
Swain was, at this crisis, chosen chaplain of the Salem regi- 
ment, under Col. Ichabod Plaistead, for Crown Point expe- 
dition.* But how long he was absent, who supplied here 
in his stead, and what was the condition of the people during 

* Crown Point was a fort and is now a town, in Essex county, New York. 
" The fort was erected by the French in 1731, on a point that runs north 
into Lake Champlain. It was reduced by the English in 1759, taken by the 
Americans in 1775, and retaken by the English the year after." 



29 

his absence, we have not been able to learn. Subsequent 
to 1760, Mr. Swain seemed to suffer greatly from insufficien- 
cy of support, and several times " remonstrat id" and peti- 
tioned for an increase of salary. The people listened to him 
" with calmness and tenderness becoming their relation ;" 
— then voted and paid him from the town treasury, at one 
time ten pounds, at another thirty, at another one hundred, 
and then three hundred pounds in addition to his stated sala- 
ry, and three hundred more for teaching school in town part 
of the year. After that six hundred pounds were added for 
his annual support. 

For several of the last years of his life Mr. Swain's useful- 
ness, and the spiritual prosperity of his people were seriously 
affected by unhappy difficulties between him and the church. 
But very few publicly professed their faith in Christ ; there 
were, apparently, but few conversions, and the sacred ordi- 
nances were irregularly observed. From the records it ap- 
pears that for some reason, perhaps owing to his feeble health, 
he did not preach for some time previous to his death. He 
died June 29, 1792, at the age of 71 ; — having been pastor 
of this church nearly forty-two years. His funeral sermon 
was preached by Rev. Mr. Forbes of Gloucester, from Eccl. 
12: 6, 7, but was, probably, never printed. Under the min- 
istry of Mr. Swain 1006 persons were baptized ; 557 died ; 
127 joined the church ; and 119 owned the covenant. The 
record of marriages, as well as of other important particulars, 
is very imperfect. By his epitaph we are informed that " In 
his public character he was a judicious divine and a respecta- 
ble minister of the gospel. In domestic life he was an affec- 
tionate husband, a tender parent and sincere friend."* 

In all their adversity God mercifully watched over and 
blessed this church, and soon sent them another shepherd to 
guide them in the way of life. In November following, the 
Rev. Adoniram Judson was invited to become their pastor, 

* See Appendix, G. 



30 

and was installed Dec. 26, 1792.* When they met to in- 
vite Mr. Judson to settle with them, the church voted to re- 
nounce the half-way covenant and practice, and to admit 
none to the enjoyment of church privileges but such as be- 
came members in full communion. 

Mr. Judson had been settled only a few years before un- 
pleasant difficulties! arose, which resulted in his dismission. 
In June 1799, he requested permission to suspend labor and 
ride several weeks for his health. This not being granted, 
he requested the church to unite in a council for his dismis- 
sion. This also was refused. In August the request was 
repeated and again denied. But Mr. Judson left, went to 
Saratoga Springs and was absent five weeks. On his return 
he renewed his request for a dismission which was again de- 
nied. He then requested a permanent addition to his salary ; 
but the town " voted unanimously not to make any addition 
to his salary at all, permanently or yearly." In a few days 
he repeated his request to be dismissed, and the town voted 
unanimously to grant it ; agreed on the terms, and on a coun- 
cil that met Oct. 22d, voted to ratify the agreement made by 
Mr. Judson and the people, and dissolve the relation ; — ex- 
pressing their regret that Mr. Judson had been unable to per- 
form the duties of his office, and cordially recommending him 
to other " churches where God should call him." In what 
light the council regarded the doings of the people we learn 
from their "Result," which concludes as follows: — "While 
they bear testimony of their respect for Mr. Judson and es- 
teem for his character, they cannot refrain from expressing 
their approbation of the spirit which the town has exhibited 
towards him, and the liberality and candor which appeared 
in the gentlemenj who conducted the business before the 

* No particular account of the installation services is found upon record. 

t The origin of these difficulties is said to have been his request for more 
salary . 

t Dea. Stephen Dodge, Major Richard Dodffe and Dr. Daniel Kilham. 



31 

council in the town's behalf; and it is their earnest prayer 
that the harmony subsisting among the people may not be 
interrupted, but that they may be speedily and happily united 
in the re-settlement of a gospel minister among them." 

In 1802 Mr. Judson was installed in Plymouth, where he 
remained about fifteen years. Having changed his religious 
sentiments and become a Baptist, he was dismissed in 1817, 
and died at Scituate Nov. 25, 1826, aged 76.* 

Under his ministry in this place 24 joined the church ; 23 
were baptized; 42 marriages were solemnized; and 52 died. 

After Mr. Judson's dismission the society became more di- 
vided ; the church was in a suffering condition, and a long 
and dreary period succeeded before another pastor was ob- 
tained. In 1 800, an unsuccessful effort was made to settle 
the Rev. Moses Dow ; a day of fasting and prayer was ob- 
served, and several church and town meetings held before 
they could agree to invite Mr. Dow. He soon returned an 
answer in the negative ; and in July, the town voted to have 
no committee for supplying the pulpit ; but in September 
they voted to recall Mr. Dow ; the church, however, did not 
concur with them, and an unhappy state of feeling existed 
for several months.f In 1801, the town chose a committee 
to secure a candidate, directing them to apply to two or more 
of the clergy in the vicinity for advice and approbation of a 
man ; but their efforts were without success. In 1802 Mr. 
Joseph EmersonJ and Mr. Barnard Ripley were employed to 
preach as candidates, but were not invited to settle. In No- 
vember, 1803, Mr. John S. Popkin*§> received a call, but on 
account of violent opposition, he refused to accept. An ef- 
fort was also made in 1804, to settle the Rev. David Jew- 

* See Appendix, H. 

1 Mr. Dow was ordained in Upper Beverly in 1801, and continued there 
twelve years. 

t Subsequently pastor of the third congregational church in Beverly, and 
principal of a seminary at Byfield, etc. 

§ Afterwards professor of Greek literature in Harvard University, and 
still living in Cambiidge. 



32 

ett ; but some new difficulties arose, and Mr. J. retired from 
the field.* With truth it may be said this church was then in 
the wilderness ; with their 'harps hung upon the willows in the 
midst thereof, while they sat in mournful silence weeping at 
the remembrance of Zion.' But in answer to their earnest 
supplications, the time, yea, the set time for God to favor 
them, at length arrived. Early in 1805, they were permitted 
to welcome the Rev. Rufus Anderson among them ; he gave 
general satisfaction ; soon received and accepted their invita- 
tion to settle, and was installed on the tenth of July follow- 
ing. On that occasion the Sermon was preached by the 
Rev. Dr. Worcester of Salem, from Eph. 1: 23. Installing 
Prayer by Dr. Dana of Ipswich ; Charge by Dr. Wadsworth 
of Danvers ; Fellowship of the Churches, by Dr. Abbott of 
Beverly. " A very pleasing unanimity attended the call and 
settlement of Mr. A., and the solemnities of his installa- 
tion were observed with uncommon seriousness and decen- 
cy of deportment."! 

Oct. 10th was publicly observed as a day of fasting, hu- 
miliation and prayer on account of an uncommon drought, 
and especially in consequence of the mortal sickness then 
prevailing in town. " The day was generally observed ; it 
seemed to be an holy solemnity." 

Feb. 28, 1806, articles of faith and a covenant for the 
church, having been prepared by a committee previously ap- 
pointed for that purpose, were accepted by vote of the church. 
Those articles were eighteen in number ; and the covenant 
was much longer than the one now in use ; but the senti- 
ments of the whole were eminently scriptural, and well cal- 
culated to bind Christians to one another, to encourage them 
in duty, and to aid in training them for heaven.J 

It had been customary to require a written relation of ex- 

* In 1805 Mr. Jewett was settled at Sandy Bay, now Rockport. 
t Missionary Magazine, Vol. Ill, p. 115. 
X See Appendix, 1. 



33 

perience from all who wished to unite with the church ; but 
in 1807 the church " voted that it be left to the choice of 
candidates for admission into the churcfi to give either a ver- 
bal relation of their experience before the church, or a writ- 
ten relation, or a relation through the medium of a commit- 
tee appointed to converse and report to the church ;" — this 
relation to be made to the church, at or before the sacramen- 
tal lecture. 

In view of the ' long absence of the special influence of 
the Holy Spirit and of their great need of help from above, 
Oct. 31, 1809, the church and congregation assembled in 
the sanctuary for humiliation and prayer to God, that he 
would be pleased to revive his work and give the increase 
according to his word.' Dr. Dana of Ipswicli preached in 
the forenoon, and Mr. Thurston of Manchester, in the after- 
noon. Dr. Cutler and Mr. Dow aided in the other services 
of the occasion. Other means were subsequently employed 
to quicken the professed disciples of Christ ; — to reclaim wan- 
derers from his fold, and to lead all to the more faithful dis- 
charge of duty. A committee was appointed by the church 
to ' inquire of some of its members who absented themselves 
from public worship, to learn the reasons of their absence, 
and report them to the church, that it might be known whe- 
ther they were satisfactory.' 

Such measures we should suppose, would not be adopted 
in vain ; — since God works by means in the moral as well as 
in the natural world, — and gives success to those means 
which are adapted to secure the desired end. Thus he did 
in the case before us ; it was not long before pastor and peo- 
ple were rejoicing in a precious revival of religion, which re- 
sulted in a large accession to the church.* 

* The number added to the church in the course of the summer and au- 
tumn was twenty-eight ; one fourth of whom were males. About the first 
of May the meeting-house was opened for Sabbath evening meetings ; and 
" this, it is believed, was the first time that house was ever lighted for the 
evening worship of God." 

5 



34 

From an interesting account of this revival (in the church- 
book) we learn, that " The meetings were still and solemn ; 
the hearers seemed to return home as from a funeral ; — and 
to those who found mercy for their relief there was more joy 
than all the men of wealth and pleasure could ever boast of. 
The friends of religion loved one another and rejoiced to- 
gether. The persons under concern appeared to be made 
sensible of their total depravity of heart, and just desert of 
eternal punishment ; of their entire dependence on the spirit, 
atonement and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation ; 
and they generally appeared to be humbled and to see them- 
selves justly condemned by a holy and righteous God before 
they felt relief from the gospel. The great doctrines chiefly 
insisted on were those of total depravity ; regeneration of the 
Spirit, and Christ in the free offer of the gospel, as our wis- 
dom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption." 

But a season of religious declension soon followed ; and 
Sept. 6, 1811, was observed as a day of fasting and prayer, 
preparatory to the communion, in consideration of the " de- 
cayed spirit of religion, want of health in the pastor, which 
rendered him unable to do more than preach on the Sabbath ; 
and on account of the heretical spirit operating in the parish, 
and leading some off to the Universalists and Free-will Bap- 
tists. Brethren B. Emerson and M. Dow led in the exer- 
cises ; but few men except professors were out ; but there 
was a good congregation of females." 

The labors of this devoted servant of God were now draw- 
ing rapidly to a close. His health continued to fail till Feb. 
11, 1814, when he died of " pulmonic consumption," in the 
forty-ninth year of his age and ninth year of his ministry in 
this place. His funeral was attended in the meeting-house, 
Feb. 15th, when a sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Wor- 
cester of Salem, from i2Tim. 1: 12. That sermon was pub- 
lished, and contains the following just tribute to the memory 
of Mr. Anderson. " This beloved servant of Christ was 



35 

born at Londonderry, (N. H.) on tlie 5th of March, 1765. 
Blessed with pious parents and a rchgious education, his mind 
was early imbued witli the truths of the gospel ; and by 
means of those truths, under the power of divine grace, he 
appears to have been early brought to a saving knowledge of 
Christ. Having devoted himself to God, his thoughts and 
his heart were gradually turned to the gospel ministry, until 
he became settled in the persuasion, that duty required him 
to consecrate himself to this sacred work. Under this im- 
pression, and with this object steadily in view, he commenced 
and prosecuted a regular course of study ; during which, as 
he has been often heard to say, his great concern was to qual- 
ify himself for the holy vocation which his heart had chosen. 
He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1781. After 
spending about three years, partly in direct application to 
theological studies, and partly as a licentiate preacher, on the 
22d of Oct. 1794, he was ordained the pastor of the second 
church in North Yarmouth, where he continued about ten 
years. His labors there were abundant, and in no small de- 
gree successful ; his trials were arduous, but salutary in their 
influence, and happy in their results. Many precious seals 
of his ministry there, as we are warranted to believe, will be 
his joy and crown, at the appearing of the Lord Jesus. His 
separation from that people was with good mutual under- 
standing ; and under circumstances, which appear to have 
fixed no imputation of particular blame, on the one side or 
on the other. On both sides, however, it was tenderly pain- 
ful, and the necessity of it was deeply regretted. The dear 
flock at North Yarmouth, once his special charge, he ever 
continued, as I am witness, to bear on his heart, with most 
aft'ectionate regard and concern ; nor am I without personal 
knowledge, that among them his memory has been cherished 
with great tenderness and respect, 

" Of the beloved flock in this place, he was installed the pas- 
tor, on the 10th July, J 805. Concerning his ministry here 



36 

I need not be particular. ' For yourselves know, brethren, 
what manner of entering in he had unto you ;' — and ' you 
have fully known his doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, 
long sutTering, charity, patience ; — how gentle he has been 
among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children ; how af- 
fectionately desirous he was of you, even to a willingness to 
have imparted unto you not the gospel of God only, but also 
his own soul, because ye were dear unto him ; — how holily, 
and justly, and unblamably he behaved himself towards 
them that believe, and towards all men — warning every man, 
and teaching every man, in all wisdom.' These distinguish- 
ing traits of apostolic character should not be applied by me, 
to my deceased friend and brother, under the present solemn 
responsibility, were I not confident of a ready testimony in 
your consciences, that the application is strikingly just. 

" Mr. Anderson was possessed of good natural talents, im- 
proved by diligence in study, especially in the study of the 
Holy Writings. His mind was active and efficient ; and, in 
regard to objects deemed by him important, would easily kin- 
dle into ardor. His passions, naturally quick and strong, re- 
strained and sanctified by divine grace, diflfused around him 
a mild and benign, a warming and cheering influence. In 
his various relations, as a husband, a father, a friend, a broth- 
er, a pastor, a citizen of his country, and a denizen of Zion, 
the benevolence of his heart was manifest, in constant endea- 
vors, and in desires unequivocally expressed, for individual 
happiness, and for public good. His conversation was dis- 
tinguished for its simplicity and godly sincerity, and for being 
always with grace seasoned with salt ; and the man is rarely 
to be found, of whom it might be said with more evident appo- 
siteness, ' Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no 
guile.' 

" As a minister of the gospel, he was ' not as many, who 
corrupt the word of God ;' nor as many, who deem it pru- 
dent to conceal, or but indistinctly or ambiguously declare, 



37 

their views of divine truth; but, 'renouncing the hidden 
things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, not handling 
the word of God deceitfully ; but by manifestation of the 
truth,' he seemed anxious only to ' commend himself to ev- 
ery man's conscience in the sight of God.' A firm and en- 
lightened believer in the doctrines, distinctively denominated 
the doctrines of grace, of these doctrines he was never 
ashamed ; but, to bear his testimony to them, to show their 
truth and importance, and to press them home to the con- 
sciences and hearts of men, was the great business of his life. 
He was a preacher of Jesus Christ, and him crucified ; of Je- 
sus Christ, as truly God and truly man ; and of him crucified, 
as the propitiation for the sins of the world, and the only 
name given under heaven among men, whereby we can be 
saved. His thoughts, his sentiments, and his manner, were 
his own ; his thoughts were luminous, his sentiments were 
rich, his manner was plain and unaffected, but solemn, affec- 
tionate and impressive. 

' Much impressed 

Himself, as conscious of his awful charge, 
And anxious mainly that the flock he fed 



Might feel it too 



By him the violated law spoke out 

Its thunders ; and by him, in strains as sweet 

As angels use, the gospel whispered peace.' 

" He was eminently a man of prayer ; and his prayers were 
distinguished for the spirit breathed into them of unaffected 
piety and lively faith. In them, as in all that he did, his de- 
votedness to Christ and his cause was manifest. Zion, the 
purchase of the Redeemer's blood — Zion, the object of God's 
everlasting love — was ever near his heart. He took pleasure 
in her stones ; he favored her dust. His heart kindled at 
whatever concerned her prosperity ; he was forward to lend 
his aid to the measures for her enlargement which distinguish 
and brighten the present age ; and he hailed with holy glad- 
ness the evident advances of her King, to put an end to the 



38 

days of her mourning, and to ' extend peace to her like a 
river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.' 
"As he lived, so he died. His last days were serene. 
Knowing whom he believed, he was persuaded that he was 
able to keep what he had committed to him, ' I have the 
assurance,' he repeatedly said, ' I have the assurance of faith, 
though not constantly the assurance of hope.' In the truth 
of the doctrines which he had preached, he maintained an 
unwavering and lively confidence ; and his greatest grief ap- 
peared to be that any should preach another gospel. His 
tender concern for his dear people, his ardent love to Zion, 
his sacred devotedness to Christ, were conspicuous to the last. 

'• Such was the servant of Christ, who statedly, for years, 
dispensed the word of life from the sacred place in which I 
stand. But the eyes that have seen him here, will see him here 
no more. At a much earlier day than our affections and wishes 
would have marked for the event, his divine Master, whose 
will is always good, has called him to rest from his labors. 
To him we believe it is gain ; to us only, who survive, it is 
loss. Upon his dear family, upon this church and people, 
upon our ministerial circle, and upon our Zion, the breach is 
great. Might an expression of personal feeling be indulged, 
I would say, I am distressed for thee, my brother Anderson ; 
very pleasant hast thou been unto me !"* 

During Mr. Anderson's ministry here, 40 were added to 
the church ; 67 were baptized ; 45 couples were married ; 
and 70 persons died. 

After Mr. Anderson's death, a committee was chosen for 
supplying the pulpit ; but notwithstanding several candidates 
were successively employed, another pastor was not speedily 
obtained. In 1815, the town voted to give Rev. Ebenezer 
Hubbard a call ; but the churcli did not concur. Many meet- 
ings, in reference to his settlement, were held, and an unhap- 
py state of feeling existed so long as Mr. Hubbard tarried 

* See Appendix, J. 



39 

amonjT them ; some greatly desired, while others as earnestly 
opposed, his settlement. June 20, 1816, the town voted that 
the committee should not hire any other candidate but Mr. 
Hubbard ; half were for hiring him till all the money raised 
for preaching was expended, which was only two hundred 
dollars for the year. Mr. Hubbard at length retired ;* and 
in Aug. 1817, Rev. John Smith was invited to settle, and 
was installed on the 26th of Nov. following.f 

But Mr. Smith's residence in Wenham was of short con- 
tinuance, much more so than that of any other pastor 
ever settled over this church. Having received the appoint- 
ment of professor in theology, in Bangor Theological Seminary, 
he requested the church to unite in calling a council for ad- 
vice and direction in regard to the expediency of his removal. 
On the 8th of Sept. 1819, a council convened, consisting of 
Drs. Cutler and Worcester, Rev. Messrs. Walker and Crow- 
ell, with their delegates, ; who, after much inquiry and de- 
liberation, voted unanimously that, in view of all the circum- 
stances, it was, in their opinion, expedient for Mr. Smith to 
accept the appointment ; and therefore advised him to ask 
and the church and society to grant a dismission, which was 
accordingly done. Mr. Smith soon left and entered upon 
his duties at Bangor. 

He was a man of excellent spirit, greatly beloved, especially 
by the people of God ; and while here was, without doubt, 
faithful and useful ; but his labors were not attended with 
much visible success. Only one persont united with the 

* Soon after that, Mr. Hubbard was settled in Middleton. 

t The exercises on the occasion were as follows : first prayer by Dr. Prince 
of Salem ; Sermon by Rev. E. Smith of Mollis, N. H. from Gal. 4: 18 ; Con- 
secrating Prayer by Dr. Worcester of Salem ; Charge by Dr. Wadsworth of 
Danvers ; Right Hand of Fellowship by Rev. Mr. Walker of Danvers; Con- 
cluding Prayer by Rev. Mr. Tlusrston of Manchester. " The happy degree 
of union with which the pastor had been invited ; the unanimity of the coun- 
cil respecting his installation; the clerical performances and the music com- 
bined to animate Christians and ministers of the gospel." — PanopUst, Vol. 
XHl. p.574. 

+ Mrs. Phebe Hood, from First church in Boxford. 



40 

church, and that one by letter ; only one, and that an infant,* 
was baptized ; nine couples were married ; and eleven indi- 
viduals died. 

The following particulars respecting Mr. Smith are princi- 
pally from an article in the Spirit of the Pilgrims.f He was 
born in Belchertown, March 5, 1766 ; graduated at Dart- 
mouth College in 1794 ; studied theology with the Rev. Dr. 
Emmons of Franklin ; was ordained in Salem, N. H. Jan. 2, 
1797, where he spent about twenty years of his life, and then 
removed to Wenham. " He was not accustomed to say much 
respecting his own feelings, neither is it known that he kept 
any record of them. They must be gathered chiefly from 
his course of conduct. A covenant, found among his private 
papers, is almost the only writing yet discavered, which al- 
ludes to his feelings." This was dated July 21, 1806; it 
bears evident marks of sincerity, and of having been fre- 
quently examined in private; but "its existence was not 
known even to his nearest earthly friend, until after his de- 
cease." His religious sentiments were " well known to all 
who were accustomed to hear him in the house of God, or 
in private religious conversation. He held no sentiment 
which he was ashamed to avow. He was accustomed to 
preach what are usually termed ' doctrinal discourses ;' yet he 
wielded the doctrines of the Bible for a practical purpose. It 
was to make men feel their obligations to submit to God and 
accept the salvation offered in the gospel. In his family and 
in his intercourse generally, there was a union of dignity and 
simplicity, of gravity and cheerfulness, which made his soci- 
ety always agreeable, even to those who were averse to his 
sentiments. He possessed much of the ' milk of human kind- 
ness ;' and the deep solicitude manifested during his last sick- 
ness, and the thrilling sensation produced by his death, 
showed how much this trait of his character had won upon 
the affections of all who knew him." 'His health had usu- 

* Daniel, son of Nehemiah Perkins. t Vol. V. p. 125—132. 



41 

ally been good, and he was enabled to perform the duties of 
his important station until a few weeks previous to his death, 
when his lungs became afiected by a cold ; and though others 
entertained no serious fears as to the result of his illness, he 
had himself some apprehensions that he might not recover ; 
as appears from the fact that he made his will and other ar- 
rangements to relieve his mind from earthly cares. He soon 
grew worse, was confined to his room, and no remedies 
seemed to check the progress of his disease. When he saw 
that there was but little prospect of his recovery, he appeared 
to be diligently preparing to leave the world.' " To a cleri- 
cal friend who inquired after the state of his mind, he said, 
' I think I have given my soul to the Redeemer. I am a 
great sinner ; and when I think how unfaithful I have been, 
and how much I have neglected my duty, I feel that deep 
humility and self-abasement become me. I have been a 
great sinner ; but I know that Christ is able to save great sin- 
ners, and I think I am willing to trust him. I have no other 
refuge, no other hope. The views I have long entertained of 
the character and government of God, remain firm and un- 
shaken. I have not that joy which some have expressed ; 
but 1 think 1 can trust the Redeemer.' " Shortly after, he 
requested one who had the care of him, to sing the fifty-first 
Psalm, L. M., which he designated by the first line : " Show 
pity. Lord ; O Lord, forgive." He seemed wholly absorbed 
in the exercise ; and when the singing ceased, with a look of 
inexpressible tenderness, he said : " That meets my case — 
that is just the language of my heart." He spoke of the 
state of religion in the village. " T believe," said he, '' there 
will be a glorious revival of religion here, and that truth will 
be victorious. I know not that I shall live to see it ; but it is 
no matter whether I do of not." At another time, alluding 
to a season of self-examination, he said : " I examined the 
evidences of my hope for eternity, and came to this result — 
that if I was ever saved, it would be of the mere sovereign 

6 



42 

grace of God ; not anything in me, but all of grace. I have 
been a minister upwards of thirty years. I have assisted in 
ordaining a great many ministers, and I have been called a 
faithful minister ; I have been settled a number of years over 
a people, and was called a faithful minister ; I have been here 
a number of years, and have been called a faithful minister. 
I have a large circle of acquaintance, and I presume I am 
called, in general, a faithful minister ; but all this does not 
weigh a feather in support of my hope for eternity J^ For 
the last few days of his life he was unable to converse much, 
except in a broken manner ; but his mind was uninterruptedly 
tranquil and happy. He continued to express an unshaken 
confidence in the Saviour and an entire willingness to die. 
His language on this subject was, " Perfectly willing — w'aiting, 
waiting to be called — ready to depart and be with Christ. God 
is good, very good. My Saviour is precious. Times, seasons 
and circumstances are all in the hands of God; a blessed truth ! 
* * * I sometimes think that I am going to be literally rocked 
to sleep. O blessed, blessed, blessed Saviour ! Eternity, 
eternity, it is near ! But not too near ; nor will it be too 
long." His bodily sufferings were severe ; but he bore them 
with Christian submission, and was inexpressibly happy in his 
soul. In his expiring agonies he was able to lisp, in accents 
such as these : " Blessed place ! Blessed privilege ! Peace 
on a death-bed. I have peace ; I am happy." In this de- 
lightful frame he passed from the toils and trials of earth to 
his heavenly reward, on the evening of April 7, 1831, aged 
sixty-five. 

In the opinion of the Uev. Mr. Pomroy, who preached 
his funeral sermon, Dr.* Smith " possessed what is fitly 
termed a reasoning mind. For a long course of years he 
cultivated chiefly, and almost exclusively, his reasoning pow- 
ers. He seemed to possess no relish for works of fancy of 
any description. The most glowing pictures, and the most 

* While in Bangor, Mr. Smith received the Degree of Doctor of Divinity 
from Bov?doin Collecre. 



43 

moving eloquence, unless connected with some visible chain 
of argument, were well nigh powerless when addressed to 
him. Locke had more charms for him than Milton ; and the 
acute Edwards waked up more feeling in his heart than could 
have been elicited, perhaps, even by Whitefield. He loved 
the naked truth ; and, on subjects of a religious nature, (ew 
men could reason with greater ability. Even those who disa- 
greed with him in sentiment, could not but feel that there 
was keenness and force in his arguments. As a preacher, he 
dwelt much on the perfections of God, and on the great prin- 
ciples of the divine government ; and although he possessed 
none of those graces of elocution* and manner which secure 
superficial applause, yet his method of exhibiting naked truth 
oftentimes gave him great power over the consciences of his 
hearers." His piety was " strongly marked with the charac- 
ter of solidity. It did not consist in visions and airy fancies. 
It was built upon substantial truth. Its foundation was laid 
on the rock. He had examined carefully and prayerfully the 
great truths" of the Bible ; and, by the grace of God, was 
enabled firmly to confide in them ; which gave stability and 
consistency to his character and conduct. Instead of saying 
much about himself, " he chose rather to speak of God and 
Christ, and the nature of true reconciliation to the divine 
government. He loved to dwell on the power of Christ, and 
the rising glories of his kingdom on earth. "f 

Who can believe that the preaching and labors of such a 
man for two years in this place could fail of effecting good ? 
We have reason to think he was very useful here, notwith- 
standing he saw so little evidence of it himself. When he 
left, the people were harmonious, and ready to unite in ef- 
forts to obtain another pastor. Rev. Ebenezer P. Sperry 
was almost immediately employed as a candidate ; received 
a unanimous invitation to settle, and was installed on the 

* " He had an impediment in his speech, which induced him to commit his 
sermons to memory after he had written them, which rendered his delivery 
more easy to him." — Biog.Dict. 

t See Appendix, K. 



44 

29th of March, 1820. The sermon on that occasion was 
preached by the Rev. Mr. French of Northampton, N. H., 
from Rom. 10: 1, and was pubUshed. Rev. Mr. Stearns of 
Bedford made the instalhng prayer ; Dr. Wadsworth gave 
the Charge ; Rev. Mr. OHphant expressed the Fellowship of 
the churches ; and Rev. Dr. Edwards of Andover oflfered the 
concluding prayer. 

Aug. 12, 1821, the church appointed a committee to look 
up or prepare a confession of faith and covenant. This com- 
mittee subsequently reported that they could not find that 
any had ever been formally adopted by the church, though 
they believed a form or forms had been used. The confes- 
sion prepared by Mr. Anderson was objected to on account 
of its length, and of its being, " not a summary of doctrine, 
but of church discipline, and therefore not appropriate to be 
read at the solemn admission of members into the church." 
The committee then recommended a form of a confession of 
faith and covenant, which was unanimously adopted by the 
church, and which (with but little alteration) has ever since 
continued in use. It was also agreed that it should be read 
and publicly acknowledged by the church before the congre- 
gation, by their rising from their seats. It was also voted 
that the communion in future should be " immediately after 
the usual services of the afternoon ; and that the church have 
a prayer-meeting near the middle of each month, to pray for 
a revival of religion in this place." A committee was then 
appointed to examine members for admission into the church. 

April 20, 1822, after sacramental lecture, the church re- 
mained to make arrangements for opening a sabbath school. 
" It was agreed that the church should be considered an or- 
ganized body to patronize and superintend it." A committee 
was appointed to choose instructors and make all necessary ar- 
rangements for the school. Though this is the first record 
we find in relation to the subject, some interest had been pre- 
viously awakened in the cause, and while Mr. Smith was 



45 

here, a sabbath school was commenced and attended with 
some success.* 

In 1826, a revival of great interest was enjoyed by this 
people, but no particulars respecting it are recorded, except 
the following : — " May 3d was a day set apart for fasting 
and prayer by the church and people, to supplicate the con- 
tinuance of the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit. Rev. 
Messrs. Oliphant, Poor, Dennis and Felt took part in the ser- 
vices of the day. The house was well filled of those who 
seemed to listen to the gospel as to a matter in which they 
had a deep interest." 

In the course of that year forty-six persons — 21 males and 
25 females — united with this church, all but three by profes- 
sion.! 

Oct. 12, 1831, a Baptist church was formed in the east 
part of this town ; and on the 25th of Nov., John Hood and 
Charles Holden, with their wives, were dismissed from this 
church to unite with that, in compliance with their request.^ 

Dec. 1 1, 1833 was set apart, by agreement of the church, 
as a fast on account of the low state of religion among them. 
A meeting for prayer and exhortation was held in the fore- 
noon ; and in the afternoon the Rev. Mr. Kimball of Ipswich 
preached. In the morning meeting, the covenant prepared 
by Mr. Gerrish, and adopted by the church in 1705, was 

* Of late years the sabbath school has been continued summer and winter; 
and, including teachers, it now embraces not far from two hundred mem- 
bers, with a library of about 300 volumes. 

t Since writing the above I have found a particular account of that revi- 
val, by Mr. Sperry, in the Boston Recorder and Telegraph, July 6, 1827. 
This states that for fifteen years subsequent to 1810, only thirlcea persons 
united with this church. More died and removed than were added. Most 
of the church members were aged and infirm. In the revival nearly all the 
conversions occurred within the first three or four weeks. About ninety in 
all expressed hope, and most of them were between thirteen and fifty years of 
age. At the above date fifty-three had joined this church and five had united 
with the Baptist church in Beverly. 

X See Appendix, L. 



46 

read, and it was voted that it be read at the next communion 
service. 

In 1834 there was considerable religious interest, and an 
addition of sixteen individuals to the church ; but no particu- 
lars are found upon record. These and many other events 
connected with Mr. Sperry's labors here are better known to 
this church and society than to me ; and inasmuch as you 
well remember his appearance, his manner of life, his reli- 
gious sentiments, his gifts and success as a preacher and pas- 
tor, together with the circumstances attending his dismission ; 
and especially as he still survives, a more particular account 
of him will not now be expected. Agreeably to his own 
request he was dismissed, and retired from his pastoral labors, 
April 30, 1837. The council convened to dismiss him voted, 
" most cordially to recommend him to the churches, among 
whom, in the providence of God, he may be called to labor, 
as a brother dearly beloved, in whom an excellent spirit has 
ever been found ; able and faithful in the ministry ; a con- 
sistent Christian, a diligent student and an affectionate and 
laborious pastor."* 

During his ministry of seventeen years among you, 123 
persons united with this church ; 154 were baptized ; 80 
marriages were solemnized ; and 192 individuals, connected 
with this society, died. 

Your present pastor commenced preaching here May 7, 
1837, and was ordained on the 26th of July following.f 
Allowing it were proper, it would be needless for me to speak 
particularly of what has since occurred-; — of the smiles of 
Heaven we have enjoyed ; of the harmony and kind feelings 

* See Appendix, M. 

t The services at the ordination were as follows: Introductory prayer by 
Rev. Mr. Langstroth of the South church in Andover ; sermon by Rev. 
Dr. Woods of Andover, from 1 Tim. 4: 12; consecrating prayer by Rev. 
Mr. Crowell of Essex ; Charge by Rev. Dr. Emerson of Salem ; Right Hand 
of Fellowship by Rev. Mr. Fitz of Ipswich ; address to the people by Rev. 
Mr. Park of Danvers ; concluding prayer by Rev. Mr McEwen of Topsfield. 



47 

which have thus far subsisted between us ; and of what you 
have cheerfully done to promote, not only our mutual welfare, 
but also the honor and general prosperity of this town.* I 
might speak of several seasons of unusual religious interest 
among us, and especially of the revival with which we were 
favored two years ago.f But it is inexpedient for me to revive 
your recollection of such recent events ; and 1 will simply add 
that since my ordination, seventy-three persons, ihirty-one 
males and forty-two females, have been admitted to our 
church ; — fifty-eight by profession and fifteen by letter. 83 
have been baptized ; 49 couples married ; and 68, in con- 
nection with our society, have died. 

It affords me pleasure to say that this church and society 
have, especially of late, cherished a lively interest, and taken 
an active part in the various benevolent enterprises of the 
age. We have felt it to be our privilege, no less than our 
duty, to contribute of our substance, and to enlist our efforts 
and our prayers for the universal extension of the Redeemer's 
kingdom.^ 

In respect to forms and customs in the church, we are 
strictly Congregational. In all our ecclesiastical concerns 
the majority uniformly govern. We have a standing com- 
mittee to co-operate with the pastor in examining candidates 
for admission to the church ; and a committee for attending 
to all irregularities, and settling difficulties (if practicable) 
without bringing them before the whole church ; but in 
every case of regular discipline, we follow the rule given by 
our Saviour in Matt. 28: 15 — 17. 

A particular account of their Christian experience is al- 
ways expected from those who unite with the church. The 

* Since 1H37 this people have built a parsonage, a new school-house in 
each district and I'emodeled anotlier, and erected a commodious house for 
the worship of God, besides making some other improvements of minor im- 
portance. 

t See Appendix, N. j See Appendix, O. 



48 

pastor and committee ask such questions as they think proper 
in regard to their rehgious views, feehngs and practice ; and 
if the examination be satisfactory, the candidates are pubhcly 
propounded two sabbaths previous to the time of admission, 
and are received before the whole congregation, on giving 
their assent to the articles of faith and adopting the cove- 
nant.* 

Having thus noticed the more prominent events and mat- 
ters of interest connected with our ecclesiastical history, I shall 
close with a few practical remarks. 

And, in the first place, it becomes us gratefully to recog- 
nize the past goodness of God to this church and people. 
Though at first but few in number, and subjected to many 
discouragements and trials, they gradually increased in num- 
ber and obtained deliverance from their trials and fears. How 
grateful should we be that while many once flourishing 
churches have been rent by errorists, and become almost or 
entirely extinct ; this church, with its sacred ordinances, has 
been so kindly preserved. Having been early and faithfully 
instructed in the great truths of the Bible, they have remained 
steadfast. in the faith, while many others have been "carried 
about with every wind of doctrine." The religious views and 
the form of church government first received by our fathers, 
and which we believe to be most agreeable to the word of 
God, are still continued among us ; and no society has here 
risen up in opposition to those doctrines which we regard as 
essential, in our system of belief. For the whole period of two 
hundred years, there have been but few sabbaths when the 
house of God was not opened for religious worship ; and 
though for several years without a settled minister, the people 
have but seldom been without a regular preacher of the gos- 
pel. It is also worthy of grateful notice, that all the former 
pastors of this church, ten in number, have appeared to be 

* For specific Rules and Resolutions adopted by this church, see " Confes- 
sion of Faith, Catalogue," etc., printed in 1840. 



49 

sound in the faith, correct in their religious sentiments, and 
in their practice conformed to the precepts of Christ. All of 
them, as we believe, cordially embraced and faithfully 
preached what we term the distinguishing doctrines of the 
Bible ; and contended " earnestly for the faith once delivered 
to the saints." As it respects length of days, God has highly 
favored the pastors of this church. The average period of 
their labors here has been nearly twenty years. One con- 
tinued pastor forty-two years, and another forty-six years, be- 
sides laboring here a considerable time before he became pas- 
tor. All but four of those pastors died here in office ; and 
their mortal remains now quietly repose with the sleeping 
members of their respective flocks. 

In the management of ecclesiastical aflfairs, there has gene- 
rally been a remarkable degree of unanimity and kind Chris- 
tian feeling. Ministers and people have lived togetlier in love, 
and appear to have cherished an accommodating spirit and 
an affectionate attachment to each other. Seldom, never of 
late years, has there been any special disagreement between 
the church and society, nor between the church or society 
and a minister ; nor between the members of the church 
themselves, so as to require the aid of a council ; and no 
ecclesiastical council has ever been called into this town, 
so far as we can learn, except to settle or dismiss a min- 
ister, according to Congregational usage. May such har- 
mony and Christian feeling still continue ; and for genera- 
tions to come may pastor and people know, by personal ex- 
perience, '"' how good and how pleasant it is for brethren 
to dwell together in unity." 

I remark, secondly, we should keep in mind the example 
and cultivate the virtues of our worthy ancestors, the original 
settlers of this town. Abundant evidence is furnished of the 
purity of their principles and practice ; and we may consider 
it as a distinguished honor to be the descendants and suc- 
cessors of such men. Their principles were derived directly 

7 



50 

from the Bible ; their faith in its author, and their devotion 
to his service were peculiar. Influenced by a sacred regard 
for the truth, for the cause and glory of God, they frowned 
upon every species of immorality and crime. Vagrants and 
immoral persons, who came from abroad to reside among them, 
were faithfully dealt with, and unless they reformed, they 
were " warned out" of town.* So far as we can learn, no 
one of the original settlers, or of their descendants, has ever 
been charged with a capital crime ; and no citizen of Wen- 
ham has ever been a tenant of a State prison. 

Our venerable progenitors manifested a high regard for the 
Christian sabbath and for the preached gospel. Though they 
saw dark and trying seasons ; and, from time to time, amidst 
great discouragement and trials, were tempted to despair ; 
they nevertheless trusted in God, and with noble resolution 
and heroic zeal, persevered in their efforts to preserve among 
them the stated means of grace. When de[)rived of a pastor, 
they mourned and wept ; and with fasting, humiliation and 
prayer, earnestly sought another. ascension gift; — a practice 
worthy of the imitation of their posterity. The great Head 
of the church heard their supplications, smiled on their exer- 
tions, and sent them men after his own heart, to watch for 
their souls, to dispense unto them the true gospel, and to 
guide them in the way of life. 

Thus did our pious fathers deny themselves, labor and pray 
to promote the cause of God, and to ensure rich blessings to 
those who should come after them. Let us not forget how 
much of our present peace, prosperity and happiness we owe, 
under God, to them. May it be our endeavor to improve 
upon their good principles and practice ; and to seek, with 
the aid of Heaven, to perfect the good work which they were 

* " At a meeting of the Selectmen, March 10, lGil6-7, then agreed and or- 
dered that the town cleik do forthwith grant a warrant to the constable to 
warn Thomas Piper and Grace his wife to remove out of the town and return 
to the place from whence they came." — Town Record. A similar "order" 
was also passed April 19, 1697. 



51 

enabled to begin. Does not God require that we should do 
this ? Can we expect to be forgiven if we fail to cherish their 
principles, to cultivate their virtues, and to transmit to our 
posterity the rich inheritance we have received from them ? 

I remark, thirdly, it becomes us to consider whether we are 
not in some danger of departing from the religious faith and 
practice of our fathers. Though, as a people, we are more 
numerous and affluent, more learned and refined, than our an- 
cestors, have we not reason to fear that some of us, at least, 
do not possess that Christian simplicity and spirituality, that 
attachment to the gospel and its ordinances, and that regard 
for domestic worship, for which they were so much distin- 
guished ? Are not parents, generally, less faithful in the dis- 
cipline and religious instruction of their children ; and are 
not children less dutiful to their parents, less serious and obe- 
dient to God ? Are there not among us some in mature or 
advanced life, who are living in the neglect of religious duty, 
— of the private, social and public worship of God ; whose 
fathers and mothers here lived and walked with God, and 
taught them, by precept and example, to do the same ? Let 
such think of the solemn meeting that awaits them at the 
judgment seat of Christ, and of the fearful reckoning they 
must then have with God. How will they answer for their 
misimprovement or abuse of such exalted privileges ; for liv- 
ing so long in impenitence, where the true gospel has been 
faithfully preached ; where so many have accepted of salva- 
tion, and where so much has been done to bring them to God. 

Heaven forbid that any of us should fail to seek, earnestly 
and perseveringly, the prosperity of this visible church, which 
has survived and prospered so long, through the instru- 
mentality of those who have entered upon their reward among 
the glorified above. God was with them, in a peculiar man- 
ner, to sustain, encourage and aid them, in difficulties and 
trials far greater than ours ; and may " the Lord our God be 
with us as he was with our fathers ; let him not leave us, nor 



52 

forsake us ; that he may incline our hearts unto him to walk 
in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his stat- 
utes and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers." 
Should we forsake him and refuse to walk in his ways and to 
keep his commands, — after all he has done for our good, — 
we must expect his righteous displeasure will fall heavily up- 
on us in this world ; and that sorer vengeance will befall us 
in the world to come. 

I remark, finally, that we are naturally led, by this subject, 
to reflect upon the progress of death, and upon our nearness 
to eternity. " Our fathers, where are they ? and the prophets, 
do they live forever ?" Where are the early settlers of this 
town, with their immediate descendants, and many of their 
more remote posterity ? In yonder grave-yard repose the 
ashes of that little company who explored the waste-howling 
wilderness, two hundred years ago, and took up their resi- 
dence in this place ; who cleared and cultivated these now 
fruitful fields ; who organized this church and laid the foun- 
dation of our temporal and spiritual prosperity. By their side 
repose their children and their children's children ; and, with 
them, we shall soon slumber in the secret and gloomy si- 
lence of the tomb. In a few years, a new race of beings will 
move over this ground and fill our places. We shall never 
meet again on an occasion like this ; and in no circumstances 
is it probable that we shall all ever meet again in this world. 
Those venerable fathers and mothers who assemble with us 
to-day will very soon take their final leave of this sanctuary, 
of their pleasant homes and endeared relatives and friends, 
and retire from all the scenes of earth. The majority of those 
in middle life will finish their earthly career before their limbs 
falter with the weight of years, or their heads have blossomed 
for the tomb. Some of these youth will be summoned to the 
grave before they engage in the pursuits or attain the honors 
of mature age ; and many of these children will be cut down 
before the bloom of youth will mantle their cheeks. Of the 



53 

hundreds who now occupy these seats, how few, how very few 
will ever reach the age of threescore years and ten ! And 
long before two centuries, or even one century more shall re- 
volve, all of this large assembly, — all of the now busy in- 
habitants of this town, will have passed from earth to their 
final home. As we contemplate these solemn facts, with 
heartfelt solicitude let us individually inquire where will 
my spirit then be ? Where, O where, and with whom shall 
I find my eternal abode ? 

May we all ever keep in view the great object of life, and 
so live as to secure the chief end of our existence in the faith- 
ful performance of the work God has given us to do. Then 
may we hope to meet our pious ancestors and other Christian 
friends in a brighter world, and to participate with all the re- 
deemed in the endless felicity of the Parndise of God. 



APPENDIX. 



A. 

In 1637, Salem "comprehended, together with its present hmits, 
Beverly, Danvers, Manchester, Marblehead, Middleton, a part of Lynn, 
Topsfield and Wenham." Early as 1639, a few persons took up their 
residence in this part of Salem, or in " Enon." Tiie first sermon ever 
preached here was by the celebrated Hugh Peters, then pastor of the 
first church in Salem ; which was the first protestant church formed 
in America. Choosing for his pulpit the small conical hill, near the 
pond, with that beautiful sheet of water before him, he preached from 
John 3: 23, ' In Enon, near to Salim, because there was much water 
there.' Wenham was " the first branch of the parent stock ever parted 
with," and the act of incorporation is thus noticed among the oldest re- 
cords : 

" The General Court of Elections, held at Boston, y« 10th day of y« 
third month, Anno 1643. It's ordered that Enon shall be called Wenham. 
Wenham is granted to be a town, and hath liberty to send a Deputy. 
A true copy as appears of record examin'd, 

Isaac Addington, Secretary." 

The year then commenced on the 25th of March, which was called 
the first month, so that the 10th of the 3d month, was the 10th of 
May.* 

Wenham is supposed to have derived its name from a town near 
Ipswich, in England, called " JVenhams,'" whence some of its first set- 
tlers appear to have emigrated. 

Some of the earliest residents and officers in this town were, Phine- 
as Fiske, who was the first constable and first selectman, — with Cliarles 
Gott and John Fiske ; William Fiske, town clerk ; John Abby, Rugard 
Dodge, Thomas Prince, and Esdras Reed, who was the first grand- 
jury man. The first record after the incorporation of the town, was 
made 12th day of 3d month, 1643, about tlie grant of "two acres of 
ground near the meeting-house to Mr. Hubbard for the settlement of 
his fjimily upon." Several other similar grants were made about the 
same time. 



* The two hundredlh anniversary of our incorporation was publicly ob- 
served May 10th 1843, when an address on the civil history of the town was 
delivered (by the writer) — part of which will be found in this Appendix. 



56 



B. 

The following is a copy of Mr, Gerrish's answer to the call. 

" Beloved Brethren. I have weighed and considered the call of God 
and his church to tliis place. I am ready to serve the Lord (his grace 
assisting) in this part of his vineyard so long as I see tiie Lord going 
before me therein, and calling me hereunto, and while you continue in 
the true faith and order of the gospel, and that I can with freedom 
carry on that pastoral work, the Lord and you have called me unto, 
and discharge my duties both unto God and man in all the several re- 
lations I stand in, desiring you continually to strive together with me 
and for me, that I may be enabled as a faithful steward, to shew my- 
self a workman that need not be ashamed. Joseph Gerrish. 

January 3d, 1674." 

The town voted to give Mr. G. fifty pounds, and twenty cords of 
wood per year, " with the use of the minister's house and land, with 
the appurtenances." 



C. 

In 168G, John Duntan, Esq., an English gentleman travelling in this 
country, visited this town, and on his return to England published a 
Journal of his travels, in which he wrote as follows : " When we came 
to Wenham, which is an inland town well stored with men and cattle, 
we paid a visit to Mr. Gerrish, the present minister of that place. 
Wenham is a delicious paradise ; it abounds with all rural pleasures, 
and I would choose it above all other towns in America to dwell in. 
The lofty trees on each side of it are a sufficient shelter from the winds, 
and the warm sun so kindly ripens both the fruits and flowers, as if 
the spring, the summer and the autumn had agreed together to thrust 
winter out of doors. 'Twere endless to enter on a detail of each facul- 
ty of learning Mr. Gerrish is master of, and I therefore take his charac- 
ter in short hand. The philosopher, is acute, ingenious and subtle. 
The divine, curious, orthodox and profound. The man, of a majestic 
air, without austerity or sourness ; his aspect is masterly, yet not impe- 
rious or haughty. The Christian, is devout, without moroseness or 
starts of holy frenzy or enthusiasm. The preacher, is primitive, without 
the occasional colors of whining or cant; and methodical, without in- 
tricacy or affectation ; and, which crowns his character, he is a man of 
public spirit, zealous for the conversion of the Indians, and of great 
hospitality to strangers. He gave us a noble dinner, and entertained 
us with such pleasant fruits as I must own Old England is a stranger 
to. Taking leave of this generous Levite, we thought it high time to 
prosecute our designed ramble to Ipswich." 

By his successor in the ministry Mr. Gerrish is spoken of (in chur'ch 
book) as " a faithfirl and usefiil minister ; greatly esteemed in all the 



57 

towns of the vicinitj', but especially a rare blessing on all accounts to 
this town." Tlie people "at his death, in suitable ex|)rcssions of iiouor 
and sorrow universally testified that they looked on hitn as an holy and 
righteous man, and a valuable servant of God. His body was decently 
interred Tuesday, Jan. 12th, a vast multitude of people being [)rescnt 
to do him honor at his burial. He left u sorrowful widow, Mrs. Anna, 
daughter of Richard VValdron, sen. Esq., of Dover, and five of the chil- 
dren which he had by her : viz. Saul, Joseph, Samuel, Elizabeth, for- 
merly wife to Rev. Joseph Green of the village, and then to Rev. Mr. 
William Brattle of Cambridge, but now a widow ; and Anna, wife to 
the Rev. Mr. Cheever of 3Ianchester." Mr. Gerrish's " son Jose[)h was 
a minister. His biothers, Benjamin of Salem, John of Dover, and Mo- 
ses of Newbury, with many of their descendants were distinguished 
men."* 



D. 

From the inscription on his grave-stone we learn that Mr. Ward was 
born in Charlestown, Sept. 23, 1694, and graduated at Harvard College 
in 1719. The graves of his two wives are by his side ; his first wife, 
Priscilla, daughter of Hon. John Appleton of Ipswich, died July 22, 
1724, aged 28. " Them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with 
him." His second wife, Margaret, daughter of Daniel Rogers, Esq., of 
Ipswich, survived her husband more than ten years, and died Feb. 7, 
1743, aged 44 years. From the following record it appears that she 
did not unite with the church till after her husband's death. " Oct. 
29, 1732, Mrs. Margaret Ward, widow of the late Rev. Mr. Robert 
Ward, having stood propounded some considerable time, was received 
a member in full communion by a vote of the church under the gui- 
dance of the Rev. Mr. Wigglesworth." 



E. 

The following persons have filled the office of Deacon in this church : 

Elected. Elected. 



James Moulton, Dec. 31, 1674. 
William Fisk, Feb. 27, 1679. 

James Friend, Jan'y 8, 1703. 

Ephraim Kimball, July 18, 1716. 
John Friend, 3Iar. 7, 1718. 

Daniel Dodge, Feb. 11, 1729. 

William Fairfield, Sept. 16, 1731. 
Ebenezer Fisk, May 16, 1739. 
Jonathan Kimball, Nov. 26, 1742. 
Ebenezer Fisk, J 751. 

Jonathan Kimball, Mar. 24, 1758. 

Only the two last mentioned are now in office, 



Ebenezer Waldron, Mar. 24, 1758. 
Samuel Tarbox, Dec. 26, 1760. 



John Friend, Oct. 30, 1777. 

Caleb Kimball, Oct. 30, 1777. 

Stephen Dodge, May 26, 1786. 

William Dodge, Oct'r 4, 1805. 

John Dodge, April 1 1, 1806. 
Nathaniel Kimball, Nov. 14, 1826. 

Moses Foster, Jan'y 4, 1827. 

Abram Patclj, Mar. 27, 1834. 



* Aden's Biographical Dictionary. 



58 



Extracts from the town records — " Nov. 5, 1747. A town meeting 
of freeholders and otljer inhabitants of our town, lawfully assembled to 
choose a conimiitee to manage the proposed affair of building a meeting- 
house, having their instructions from the town, and to proceed so long in 
said affair as the town shall see meet." John Gott, Moderator. " Voted 
to proceed in their choice of a committee by handy votes." Chose 
" John Gott, William Dodge, John Kimball, Benjamin Edwanls, Jo- 
siah Herrick, Ebenezer Waldron, Nathaniel Bragg, Edmund Kimball 
and Caleb Coy." May 16, 1748, " Voted to take down the old meeting- 
house on Wednesday the 18th instant, in order to frame and set up the 
new house soon as convenient in the same place. Voted to make the 
new house but 52 feet long and 40 wide." 

June 2, 1748, in town meeting, " Voted to choose a committee to take 
care to pi-ovide the particulars hereafter named, and to bring them to 
the school-house by the morning of tlie raising day, for the comfortable 
support of such as should labor in raising said meeting-house. The 
men chosen for the committee for the above-said business are Wil- 
liam Dodge, Jonathan Kimball and Jonathan Porter, which committee 
are to provide on the town charge, six gallons of rum, and eight pounds 
of sugar ; two barrels of cider and two barrels of beer, and one hundred 
weight of bread, and one hundred weight of legs of pork, and forty 
pounds of cheese, — to be taken care of by said committee on raising 
day in the prudentest way they can for the end aforesaid." 

May 17, 1749, it was voted, " that the finishing committee be em- 
powered to purchase materials and finish the meeiing-house with all 
convenient speed, excepting the pulpit." July 6, " Voted that the fin- 
ishing committee have discretionary power to build said pulpit in such 
a form and manner as may be most agreeable to the other parts of the 
house." Many more town meetings were called (nineteen in all) and 
numerous committees appointed before that house was completed. It 
was regarded as " finished " in 1754, though considerable was done to 
it after that period.* 



G. 

Mr. Swain had two wives. His first wife, whom he married July 3, 
1751, was the widow of the Rev. Mr. Warren, his immediate predeces- 
sor, and died Nov. 7, 1773. By her he had six children, as appears 
from the record of baptisms ; viz. Mary, Sarah, Joseph, Daniel, Benja- 
min and Hannah. His second wife — a Hartshorne from Reading, 
died Nov. 8, 1789, aged 64. 

It is said that 3Ir. Swain was the best writer in the Association, but 

* For other particulars relating to houses of worship in this town, see Ap- 
pendix to my Dedication Sermon in 1843. 



59 

not a very good speaker ; — very formal in his public services, especial- 
ly in pniyer. 

The following extracts from two of his manuscript sermons exhibit 
some of his doctrinal views, and his style of writing. 

Cant. 5: ]6. Ht is aUoffdher loveljj. After a brief introduction he 
sajs ; "I propose to inquire, (1) vvheruin tlie Lord Jesus Christ appears 
to be altogether lovely, and then, (2) to make some improvement. 
Wherein does the loveliness and amiaiileness of Christ ap|)ear ? lie is 
lovely iu himself, abstracted fi-om all considerations of what he is to 
others; and besides, he is lovely on account of what he is to l>elievers. 
1. Christ is lovely if ive consider his own real and personal excellencies; he 
is a person iu whom all uncreated and created excellencies meet to- 
gether. Col. 2:9, In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead 
bodily. The glorious perfections of the Deity manifested themselves 
in him, even in tiie days of his flesh. John 1: 14, we beheld his glory, 
etc. The eternal God is his Father and all uncreated glory shines 
forth in his Son. Heb. 1: 3, he is the brightness of his Father's gloiy 
and the express image of his person. Now as he is God, there is nothing 
in him but what is lovely and amiable. There is Alnfighty power, un- 
erring wisdom, infinite goodness, unblemished truth, unspotted holi- 
ness, and every other excellency in the highest degree and in the most 
perfect manner. If these things render men lovely in our eyes, in 
whom they are found but in a low degree and in an imperfect manner, 
how much more lovely does the Lord Jesus Christ apj)ear, to whom 
they belong in such a degree and manner as they cannot be ascribed 
to any created beings. But if we consider him in his human nature 
and in his mediatorial character, he is altogether lovely ; for he bears 
more of the divine image than any other creature ; his human natiu'e 
is such as hath all the excellencies of our nature without any of the 
defiling stains ; he was holy, harmless and undefiled, and separate 
from sinners, hence he is more desirable and lovely than any of the 
children of men; Ps. 45: 2. 

2. "Christ is altogether lovely on account of what he is to believers." 
This is shown under six particulars. Then comes the "Improve- 
ment, (I) hence learn that Christ deserves our supreme love and high- 
est affection. (2) Hence let us not be afraid of doing or suffering too 
much for Christ. (3) Hence see the danger of such who despise, or 
who love not the Lord Jesus Christ. (4) Hence let us examine how 
he appears to us. (5) Hence see how it becomes us to deck and ador-n 
ourselves, that we may be pleasing and acceptable to our Loi'd Jesus 
Christ. (6) Hence see what is incumbent on all persons when they 
set down at the holy table of the Lord's supj)er. There they should 
take a view of Jesus in all his beauty and glorious excellencies. That 
is an ordinance which, as a glass, discovers to us the glory and inimita- 
ble beauty of Christ. O then let us take a view of him and of his love- 
liness, which infinitely transcends the beauty and excellency of all cre- 
ated beings. This is our business at the table, arrd it will be pleasant 
food to oiu- taste, Cant. 2: 3, 4, and while we behold the gloiy of Christ 



60 

reflected from the mirror of the ordinances, let us see to it that it has 
a transforming eflicacy upon our souls, begetting in us a growing con- 
formity to the beauty and lovehness of Jesus;" 2 Cor. 3: 18. 

In anotiier sermon on 1 Cor. 5: 7, he shows, 1. that " the Old Testa- 
ment sets forth Christ as one to be sacrificed, and that both by types 
and prophecies. 2. The New Testament sets forth Christ as one that 
is ah-eady sacrificed. 

" Improvement. 1. Let us see the wonderful condescension and grace of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Hence set the infinite loorth and value of this 
sacrifice. If we consider the person sacrificing, who is God as well as 
man ; if we consider the sacrifice which he offered, which was not the 
fat of rams or the blood of bulls, but himself; if we consider the altar 
on which the sacrifice is offered, which was also himself and not a ma- 
terial one to sanctify the gift ; if we consider that one offering of this 
sacrifice could do more than all the sacrifices which were ever offered 
before, and could perfect forever them that are sanctified; and if we 
consider the end and design of this sacrifice, as it was to take away 
sin and to deliver us from all the dismal effects of it, and to restore us 
to the favor of God, and all the blessed fruits and consequences of such 
a reconciliation ; — we cannot but learn something of the infinite value 
and worth of this sacrifice. It was a sacrifice very acceptable to God, 
and beneficial to mankind. It is exceeding precious ; 1 Pet. I: 18, 19. 
3. Hence learn how ivicked and impious a thing it is to despise and contemn 
this precious sacrifice of the Son of God. Heb. 10: 26 — 29." 

In two or three other sermons which 1 have examined are found 
the scriptural doctrines of human depravity, the nature and necessity 
of regeneration by the Holy Ghost, future punishment, with other es- 
sential truths, plainly exhibited and urged upon the consciences and 
hearts of his hearers. 



H. 

We cannot learn that any obituary, or any particular account of Mr. 
or Mrs. Judson has ever been published. They had four children ; Ado- 
niram, who has been a devoted missionary in Burmah for thirty-two 
years; Abigail, now living in Plymouth ; Elnatlian, who was a physician 
and surgeon in the navy of the United States ; and Polly Alice, who died 
in infancy, Sept. 12, 1796. EInathan, though religiously instructed in early 
life, subsequently "freed himselffrom what he called the prejudices of ed- 
ucation, the shackles of priestcraft," and imbibed infidelity; but in his 
last sickness, through the influence of a pious njedical friend, who had 
also been an infidel. Dr. Judson was induced to turn his attention to 
his spiritual condition and })rospects. In the words of another, " He 
had no confidence but that of ,a sceptic — no hope but that of ceasing 
to be. Aware of the fatal nature of the disease under which he had 
lingered for years, he had long been arming himself to meet the king 
of terrors with composure, that he might die like a philosopher — ' unth 



61 

manly firmness ; but as he drew nearer to the grave, the clouds and 
darkness thickened around him, and he began to tear that there niif.'ht 
be something beyond this narrow prison. lie liad hitherto refused all 
religious intercourse, but now his infidelity began to give way, and he 
inquired with solicitude, ' Is there such a thing as the new birtli, and 
if so, in what does it consist?' He was directed to the gospels for the 
answer. He at length consented to make the investigation recom- 
mended by his friend Dr. Godman. He took up the New Testa- 
ment and read it in the spirit of candid inquiry. A conviction of 
the truth of its doctrines fastened upon him. He now solicited the 
advice and prayers of a pious clergyman. Yet he could not consent 
to relinquish the sentiments which he had so long cherished, without 
the clearest proof, and he disputed every inch of gromid with great 
acuteness and ability; but the truth was exhibited by the venerable di- 
vine with such force and simplicity, that it overc(nne every argument 
he could produce, and he saw clearly the folly of his sceptical opin- 
ions. The clouds were dissipated, light broke in upon his mind, and 
he was enabled to take hold of the promises. The remaining days of 
his life were devoted to fervent prayer and the constant study of the 
Scriptures, which filled his soul with divine composure and enabled 
him to rely with undoubting confidence on the infinite merits of his 
Redeemer, and with his last breath to cry, ' Peace, peace.' If he did 
not die with ' manly firmness,'' he ' rested in Jesus.'' "* He died in Wash- 
ington city, in 18*29. 



I. 

From those articles the following selection is made. " The form of 
discipline and government of this church is congregational, which we 
view to be agreeable to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. 
These alone, we believe to be of divine authority, and agreeable to 
these we consider the substance of the platform, agreed upon by the 
assembly of divines at Cambridge. 1. That none shall be admitted 
into this cliurch, but such as make a credible profession of cordial sub- 
jection to Jesus Christ, appearing in the judgment of the church, to be 
persons of competent knowledge in things of religion, the subjects of 
Christian experience and of exemplai'y conversation agreeable to Heb. 
ch. 3 ; Platform chap. 3, § 1. 

2. That in the choice of a pastor the church must obtain satisfaction 
respecting the person's qualifications for the office, agreeably to the 
apostle's directions to Timothy and Titus; respecting his expei-imental 
acquaintance with Christianity, as well as competent gifts, abilities, 
knowledge and wisdom for the office, agreeable to chap. 8, § 4, of Plat- 
form. 

15. Whereas thei-e are many things as contrary to the gospel as 

* See Tract No. 370, p. 6—10 ; published by the American Tract Society. 



0^ 



62 

darkness to light, which professors of rehgion sometimes make too 
light of, such as fooHsh talking and jesting ; vain disputings about words 
and things which edify not, but rather gender strife ; spending time 
idly ; unnecessary conversation on the Lord's day, etc., we tliink it for 
the glory of God that we abstain from these and sucli like things, and 
will faithfully rebuke any of the members of this church, if at any 
time they are found in these or in any sinful practices. Eph. 5: 11. 

16. Though no human compositions are of divine authority, yet we 
look upon the Confession of Faith, and Shorter Catechism, agreed 
upon by the assembly of divines at Westminster, to be an excellent 
system of the doctrines of our holy religion. 

17. To prevent as much as possible any unconverted minister ever 
having anything to do with this church, we think it necessary that such 
persons as may be set over us in the Lord, should give the church a 
particular account of what God has done for them, by a work of the 
law and gospel on their souls, declare themselves living instances of 
the grace of God, and sign the articles of the church before ordination 
to the pastoral office over it." 

The other articles are less important, — relating to church discipline, 
councils, etc. 

All who gave tlieir assent to the covenant were considered as adopt- 
ing those articles. The following is a part of the covenant which was 
publicly read to all who united with the church. " We the members 
of the church of Christ in Wenham, apprehending ourselves called of 
God to renew our covenant with him and one another, deeply sensible 
how unworthy we are of so high a privilege, do admire the rich grace 
which triumphs over so great unworthiness. But with humble reliance 
on divine grace, promised to all, who with a true sense of their guilt 
return to God through Jesus Christ for pardon, we thankfully take hold 
of his covenant, avouching this day, the Lord, the Father, Son and Holy 
Ghost to be our God, taking him as our portion forever. We give up 
ourselves and our all to the blessed Jesus, as our Almighty Redeemer ; 
and relying on him as our prophet, priest and king, to prepare us for 
and take us to glory, we engage to follow and obey him. And we ac- 
knowledge it to be no less our privilege, than our indispensable obliga- 
tion to glorify God in all the duties of a holy and sober life. ***** 
* * * We also dedicate our children with ourselves to the Lord, pur- 
posing by the help of his grace to perform our duty to them, in the 
methods of a religious education that the Lord may be their God."* 



J. 

Mr. Anderson published two fast sermons in 1802, and seven letters 

* The above articles and covenant, it is understood, were prepared by Mr. 
Anderson. 



63 

on " close communion," in 1805.* It is said that the last hymn Mr. 
Anderson read in the mecting-hoiisc, was tlie 27th of the first book 
(Watts and Select Edition), entitled, ^'^ A Saint prepared to die," and 
commencing with, 

• " Death may dissolve my body now, 

And bear my spirit liome !" 

Upon the stone which stands at the head of his grave, is the follow- 
ing inscription : 

SACRED 

to the memory of the 

REV. RUFUS ANDERSON. 

Graduated at Dartmouth College, 1791. 

Ordained at North Yarmouth, 1794. 

Installed at Wenharn, 1805. 

Departed this life in the midst 

of his usefulness, respected 

and lamented, Feb. 11, 1814. 

JEt. 48. 



"Piety, benevolence, integrity and fidelity 
were prominent virtues in his amiable cliaracter." 



' Sleep precious dust while here confined in earth, 
Till the glad spring of nature's second birth. 
Then quit the transient winter of the tomb, . 
To rise and flourish in immortal bloom." 



Mr. Anderson was married twice. His first wife, a daughter of Isaac 
Parsons, Esq. of New Gloucester, Me., died while he was at North 
Yarmouth, and some account of her life and death appeared in the 
Massachusetts Missionary Magazine for March, 1804. She was a wo- 
man of uncommon energy of mind and of great moral worth. " A 
practical manifestation of a deep sense of sin, of the justice of God, and 
of his rich grace in giving salvation, formed the prominent features of 
her Christian character. — After she had been mar-ried nearly eight 
years, she died in the thirty-first year of her age, and left a sorrowful 
husband and thr-ee children to mourn their loss, which it is iioped, is 
her unspeakable gain. Her sim set in brightness and her end was 
peace." His second wife was Elizabetli Lovett, of Beverly, who sur- 
vived him and died in Beverly April 9, 1820, aged 46. She was from a 
respectable and numerous family, and is said to have been an excellent 
woman — greatly esteemed in life and lamented in death. 

* Near the close of his life, Mr. Anderson was engaged in compiling a 
history of foreign missions, and employed his son Rulus to copy documents 
for him, who thus became interested in the object, to which he has for so 
many years, been aidently and successTully devoted. 



64 

Of the three children above referred to, only one survives, — tlie Rev. 
Rufus Anderson, D. D. one of the secretaries of the A. B. C. F. M., 
Boston. The second son, Isaac P. Anderson, A. B. died in Beverly, 
Dec. 16, 1818, in the twenty-first year of his age. He was a young 
man of great promise ; — possessing an amiable disposition, fine talents 
and ardent piety. He entered Bowdoin College* in 1816; soon be- 
came a subject of a revival in college, and united with the congrega- 
tional church in Brunswick, Dec. 25th of that year. He pursued his 
studies with great ardor and success till consumptive complaints 
obliged him to relinquish his books, and the fond hope he had cher- 
ished of entering upon the work of the gospel ministry. " May 2, 1818, 
he left Brunswick never more to return. He bade an affectionate fare- 
well to his class-mates and friends, with the full persuasion that he 
should see but few of them again in this world." After visiting some 
friends in Maine, he came, in company with his brother, to Beverly 
where he gradually failed in body, but increased in spiritual strength 
and joy, till with cheerful resignation, he received the summons and 
with calm composure fell asleep in Jesus. His writings are excellent 
and his "Memoirs," published in 1819 by S. T. Armstrong, Boston, 
will richly repay an attentive perusal. 

James, the youngest son, graduated at Bowdoin College in 1822, and 
died the following year, of consumption, in Charleston, S. C, aged 
twenty-two years. Though not a professor of religion " his friends had 
hope concerning him in his death." 



K. 

Dr. Smith published a Fast Sermon in 1813, and a Missionary Ser- 
mon in 1830. He left a widow, who is now the wife of General Rich- 
ardson, m Pelham, N. H. 



The following facts have been kindly furnished by the Rev. Josiah 
Keely, the present pastor of the Baptist church. 

"The church under my charge was constituted in the forenoon of 
Oct. 12, 1831, and then consisted of twenty-five members, viz. eleven 
males and fourteen females. There have been added since, as nearly 
as I can ascertain, seventy-three, viz. forty males and thirty-three fe- 
males. The first pastor was Rev. Charles Miller, who was installed 
April 4, 1833, and was dismissed April 9, 1835. The second pastor 
was Rev. H, Archibald, who took charge of the church without a formal 
settlement (having been previously ordained) Aug. 4, 1836, and was 
dismissed Aug, 20, 1837. The third pastor was Rev. Joel Kenney, who 

* President Mc'Keen, first president of Bowdoin College, was brother-in- 
law to Mr. Anderson, whose sister he married. 



65 

was ordained June 20, 1838, and was dismissed April 13, 1840. The 
fourth pastor was Rev. Geo. W. Patcli, wlio was ordained Oct. 20, 1841, 
and was dismissed Feb. 23, 1843. The fifth pastor, who is the |)resent 
incumbent, was ordained tlie 21st of Dec. 1843. There have been 
other ministers who have supi)lied them for some months together, 
but who do not appear to have liad any invitation to the ])astorshi{), 
and of wiiom I have tiierefore made no mention. The meeting-house 
was dedicated in the afternoon of Oct. 12, 1831, being the same day 
on which the church was constituted. The number of deatlis and 
marriages I have no means of ascertaining. Within the hmits of the 
town, for one year ending say Oct. 1, I have attended three funerals 
and five marriages." 



M. 

Rev. Mr. Sperry was born in New Haven, Ct. June 3, 1785; gradu- 
ated at Middlebury College in 1808, and at Andover Theological Semi- 
nary in 1810 ; was ordained at Dunstable (now Nashua), N. H. Nov. 3, 
1813, and resigned April, 1819. About the time of his settlement in 
Dunstable, Mr. Sperry was married to Maria, daughter of the late Rev. 
Jonathan French of Andover. After leaving Wenham, he was elected 
chaplain of the House of Correction, in South Boston, where he re- 
mained between one and two years. He has since removed to Ohio, 
been installed as pastor of the church in Peru, Huron Co., and is now 
laboring in Bronson, in the same county. 



N. 

Some account of that Revival was published in the New England 
Puritan, Oct. 21, and in tlie Boston Recorder, Dec. 9, 1842. During 
the year 1842, thirty-nine united with this church, and twelve were 
added to it in 1843. The number now belonging to this church is one 
hundred and forty. Several of this number have removed from town, 
but still retain their church relation to us. 



O. 

The amount of our public contributions for charitable objects was, 
in 1840, $155,09; in 1841, $223,54; in 1842, $334,45; in 1843, it was 
not quite so much, on account of private contributions for building and 
furnishing our new House of worship. Something has also been done 
in other ways, especially by the Female Reading and Charitable Societj"-, 
and by the Juvenile Benevolent Society for the relief of the needy at 
home and abroad. 



66 



Miscellanies. 

Sept. 19, 1637. "John Williams, for the murder of John Hoddy, 
near the Great Pond (most likely in Wenham), was sentenced to 43e 
hung. He was executed at Boston. The event excited general atten- 
tion."* Tradition says the munler was committed in the valley near 
the bound-stone, on the main road to Beverly ; that Williams supposed 
lloddy iiad with him a large sum of money, but actually found only a 
single cent; that Hoddy's dog seized and held the murderer till people 
collected and apprehended him ; and that this was the first murder 
ever conjniitted in Salem, or in this vicinity. 

1663. Josselyn, in the account of his second voj^age to New 
England, says : " Wenham is an inland town, very well watered, lying 
between Salem and Ipswich ; consisteth most of men of judgment and 
experience in re rusiica, well stored with cattle." 

" Sab. May 18, 1673. Richard Goldsmith was killed by lightning, ai 
the house of Rev. Mr. Newman (lately deceased), while Rev. John Hig- 
ginson of Salem was present." Mr. H. had been preaching here, and 
had just returned from meeting in the afternoon. While he was sitting 
and conversing with others, the lightning passed through the room and 
went up chimney, killing Mr. Goldsmith and a dog under his chair. 

1677. "Mrs. Elizabeth, widow of Rev. Antipas Newman, of Wen- 
ham, claimed a tract of land at Ryal side, granted to her brother, gov- 
ernor John Winthrop, Jr., by Salem, for salt-works. The town settled 
her claim." — Annals of Salem. 

1685. Several families were allowed seats in the meeting-house, on 
condition that they pay seven shillings and sixpence yearly to the minis- 
ter, and, in case the house should be enlarged, pay twenty shillings 
towards it." 

At a town meeting, March 4, 1689-90, " Voted, that Rev. Mr. Gerrish 
and his heirs shall have and enjoy the house and five acres of land, be 
it more or less, where he liveth, together with all other lands which 
they possess in the town right. To have and hold all the abovesaid 
house and lands to the aforesaid Joseph Gerrish and his heirs forever." 

Aprils, 1694. "Town voted that one third part of Mr. Gerrish's 
salary shall be paid in tnoney ; and the rest, one half in pork and Eng- 
lish grain, oats excepted, and the other half in butter and in Indian corn, 
viz. two pounds of butter for every milch cow." " Voted to pay Rob- 
ert Symonds, for ringing the bell and sweeping the meeting-house for 
this year, thirty shillings." 

Jan. y, 1698. " Voted, that whoever shall presume to speak disor- 
derly in this town meeting, without leave of the moderator, shall pay a 
fine of sixpence to the use of the town," 

"Sept. 9, 1700. At a meeting of the Selectmen, Capt. Thomas Fisk 
was appointed to keep a school in town, for the year ensuing, for the 
learning of children and youth to read and write ; and he to be allowed 
by the town his proportion of rates, to country, county and town, for 

* Felt's Annals of Salem. 



67 

this year ensuing, from tliis time, besiflos wliat lie shall have of those 
that he shall so learn to read and write." This is the first record 
which we find of the doings of the town in respect to common schools; 
and that appears to have hcen the first school ever kept in town. For 
several succeeding years, teachers were employed, examined and paid 
by the Selectmen, " reasonable satisfaction for their pains." 

1714. "Church consented to give to the church of the south pre- 
cinct of Ipswich one great flagon, one platter and two cups." 

]731— 9, A committee was chosen by the town to " seat the meeting- 
house." This was done for some years, but not without difticiilty. 

1732. William Rogers ])resented a humble petition for the consent 
of the town to be an innholder in town, having had encouragement 
from the Selectmen. His petition was granted. 

1736. Selectmen agreed with Mr. Daniel Dodge to keep a school to 
learn youth to read and write, and for the sunwner season to teach to 
read by three women, in the three several parts of the town, for four 
pounds a month. 

1739-40. Town " Voted to raise thirty ])oimds to support schools 
in our town." This is the first vote of the kind which is found on re- 
cord. 

Nov. 30, 1743. Selectmen "agreed with Mr. Jonathan Perkins to 
keep school in town to teach children to read, write and cy[)her, six 
months from this date, in such particular places as they shall order and 
ajjpoint for that service ; and to pay him five pounds, old tenor, per 
month and find his board ; being well satisfied of his abihty for that 
service, and of his sober and good conversation ; provided, however, 
he continue in such sober conversation." 

1744. Oct. 8. " A Century Lecture was kept here ; it being just one 
hundred years since the Rev. Mr. John Fiske becatne pastor of a church 
in the town. The Rev. Mr. Chipman began with jirayer. I preached 
from Acts 13: 26." This, from the church book, is in the hand-writing 
of Rev. Mr. Warren, and is all I have been able to find upon the sub- 
ject. We exceedingly regret that that Lecture was never published or 
preserved for our inspection. It probably contained many interesting 
and important facts iii relation to our history, which are now irrecover- 
ably lost. 

1746. Selectmen "approved of and approbated Mrs. Elizabeth 
Kimball to keep school in our town to teach children and youth to 
read, she having behaved in sober conversation." Mrs. K. seems to 
have been the first female teacher ever approved and employed by the 
town. 

1749. May 17. " At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabi- 
tants of Wenham, lawfully warned and assembled in order to make 
choice of a person to re[)resent them in a great and general court to be 
begun, held and kept for his majesty's service, at the court-house in 
Boston, on Wed. tiie 31st day of May current, after several trials 
made for the clioice of a person for said service, none could be ob- 
tained ; and therefore the compassionate regards of the honorable 



68 

House of Representatives was humbly requested." Thus it was for 
several succeeding years. 

1759. Town " voted to pull down the steeple to the meeting-house 
(to save tlie house) and close up that part of the roof where it stood 
with all convenient speed." 

1764. Town " voted to build a steeple to the meeting-house the en- 
suing summer. 

1765. " Voted that the abovesaid steeple be 12 feet square, and of 
proportionable height," and that the " committee take effectual care that 
the business of said building is begun, carried on and perfected in the 
most consistent manner v/ith the benefit of the town." 

May 23. " Voted tliat the steeple committee be impowered to pro- 
vide a vane to be put upon the top of said steeple, according to their 
discretion." 

Dec, 27. " Voted that the account for the labor and materials for the 
building of the steeple, the sum total whereof is £1351 6s. lOd. old 
tenor, be accepted and allowed." 

May 24, 1771. Town " voted that Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns be 
introduced into the congregation to be sung on the Lord's dajf." 

1773, June 17. Paul Kimball, (son of Thomas Kimball) and his 
wife, who was a daughter of Dr. Fairfield, were drowned with eight 
others from Salem, by the sinking of a boat off Salem harbor. 

1777. Town " voted to raise 200 pounds on polls and estates to en- 
able the Treasurer to pay a bounty to each soldier who should engage 
three months in the continental service. 

1778. Town " voted not to continue a grammar school for the year 
to come." No account is given of its origin or success. 

1779. March 16. Town voted to oflTer Rev. Mr. Swain three hundred 
pounds (in addition to three hundred pounds added to his salary on 
2d inst.) to keep a grammar school in town for part of the year. This 
offer was accepted for that year. 

1780. Town "Voted to give each man that should enlist in the con- 
tinental army for three years, or during the war, one hundred dollars a 
year in hard money, or the exchange in paper." 

1783. " Voted to build a Pound by a tax on the inhabitants and lands 
in town, and to raise seventy-five pounds for that purpose." 

1785. "Voted to repair the Monument over the Rev. Joseph Ger- 
rish's remains in our burying-gi'ound." 

1786. Town " Voted to buy a burying-cloth for the use of the town." 
1793. Of thirty-six poimds raised for schools, three pounds were 

voted to the East part of the town, known by the name of "Little 
Comfort." This appears to have been the first appropriation ever 
made by the town for such a jjurpose. 

1795. Town " Voted the middle district a piece of land, near the 
meeting-house, to set a school-house on." 

1796. Tovrn voted, unanimously, in favor of the establishment of the 
treaty between Great Britain and the United States of America. 

1797. Town voted one hundred pounds to repair the steeple of the 



69 

meeting-house ; and Capt. Pelatiah Brown, Rirhard Hood and Isaac 
Porter were appointed a committee to do it. 

1798. Town voted one hundred and fifty pounds to purchase a new 
bell. Voted that the old bell be ap|)ropriated towards paying for the 
new bell ; and Capt, Samuel Blanchard, Capt. John Dodge and Isaac 
Dodge were aj)pointed a committee to buy the new bell. 

1799. Ringing of the bell and sexton's business bid off at vendue, by 
Uzziel Dodge, for four dollars the year. 

1800. Feb. 7. In town meeting, it was " Voted, that the town join 
in keeping a day of fasting and prayer," with reference to the settle- 
ment of a minister among them. " Voted that Thursday, the 20th inst., 
be solemnly observed as a day of fasting and prayer." 

Agreeably to an act of general court, passed Feb. 28, 1795, town 
voted to have guide-boards placed at the corner of the streets. 

May 16. Town voted, that if any one should catch fish on the Sab- 
bath day, he should be fined fifty dollars, to be recovered in any court 
proper to try the same : one half to go to the town and the other half 
to the fish committee. 

1801. Town voted to raise for schools $200 ; for the support of the 
poor $150. Voted that the price of labor on the highways should be, 
for a man, sixty-seven cents a day ; horse twenty-three cents ; each 
yoke of oxen, twenty-eight cents; each cart, twenty-eight cents a day. 

1802. Town voted that sleds should be made four feet wide, or be 
forfeited by their owners, though they might use sleds of less width on 
their own lands. 

1805. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 20, eleven persons died in town of the 
dysentery; viz. the wives of William, Simon and Nicholas Dodge, a 
daughter of Dea. Nicholas and one of widow Amos Dodge, a child of 
Nicholas Dodge, Jr., a son of William Dodge, one of Mr. Orne, one of 
Capt. Moulton, one of Edward Perkins and a daughter of W^illiam 
Kimball. 

1810. Town " voted for an Academy, the privilege of setting the 
same on the common land in said town during their pleasure." 

1812, July 8th. Hon. Timothy Pickering, then of this town, was 
appointed "delegate to meet in convention to consult on the ])resent 
awful and alarming situation of our country in consequence of the 
war declared by Congress against Great Britain." 

1813. "About the end of June a malignant fever commenced, singu- 
lar and new in some of its symptorns. The worst symptoms have usu- 
ally appeared after the fever has seemed to turn and abate. No two 
persons have seemed to be exactly alike in their symptoms." Then 
follow the names of thirty persons thus afflicted ; none of them un- 
der six, and most of them over twenty years of age. 

1820. Town " voted to accept the donation of $500, made l)y Ed- 
mund Kimball of Newburyport, for the purpose of aiding in the sup- 
port of the gospel in this town; and that the thanks of this meeting be 
given to him for his benevolence in making the aforesaid donation." 

1821, July 25. George W., son of Josiah M. Kimball, was killed by 



70 

lightning, aged eight years. We find no record of any other death by 
lightning except that of Mr. Goldsmith in 1673, and in the opinion of 
our oldest citizens, these are the only cases that ever occurred in this 
town. 

1822. Rules and regulations for the public schools in town were 
adopted and recorded in the town book. A revision of these rules, 
with others, the town also adopted in 1835. 

1824. Town " voted to provide six ladders and three fire-hooks for 
the use of the town, to be equally divided between the several districts. 
Voted that the Selectmen cause to be built a hearse and a hearse-house, 
and ])rocure a decent burying-cloth. Voted to raise 150 dollars to 
meet said expense." 

182G. Town "voted that the Selectmen be a committee to wait on 
Dr. Samuel Dodge and invite him to settle among them as physician 
and surgeon." 

1827. Town " voted to raise thirty dollars for the support of sacred 
music, and thai Col. Porter, Nicholas Dodge, Jr. and Franklin Hadley 
be a committee to appropriate said money for the support of sacred 
music." Since then, funds for that purpose have been raised by pri- 
vate contribution. 

At a regular church meeting, April 5, 1827, it was voted that the 
thanks of this church be given to Capt. Edmund Kimball for his very 
generous present to the church of " six elegant silver cups, bearing his 
name and the date of the year ; and in general for the benevolent in- 
terest he has taken in this church, of which he is a very worthy mem- 
ber." 

1830. Church voted to give the cups which they had used on the 
sacramental table, to the new church in Gloucester Harbor ; for which 
the thanks of that church were returned. 

1833, Oct. 30. Dr. Samuel Dodge died, aged 44. 

1835. Town voted to raise 100 dollars to build an engine house, 
and to procure the necessary apparatus for the engine. "Voted to de- 
fray the expense of vaccination of the kine pox for individuals that 
were unable to pay ; to be attended to by the overseers." 

"Voted that it is inexpedient that any license be granted for the sale 
of ardent spirit in the town for the ensuing year." A similar vote was 
passed in succeeding years. Since 1839, a Temperance Society with 
a pledge of Total Abstinence from all which can intoxicate, has taken 
the place of the old society, which required abstinence from ail dis- 
tilled spirits only. A large proportion of our population, both males 
and females are now pledged for total abstinence from all that will in- 
toxicate ; all traffic in intoxicating drinks is disallowed, and it is believed 
tiiere are but very few persons in town who are habituated to the use 
of strong drink. 

1835. " Voted to relinquish the privilege the town has in Peter's Hill 
to the First Parish in Salem, for the purpose of erecting a monument 
to the memoi-y of their distinguished divine, Hugh Peters, on condi- 
tion that the said First Parish in Salem build or cause to be built or 



71 

erected a monument on said Peter's Hill within three years from tliis 
day, March 3, J 835. Otherwise said First Parish have no privilege to 
build on said hill." 

" Voted to lease to Edmund Kimball and others a sufficient quantity 
of land on the training field belonging to said town, to set a vestry, for 
the term of thirty years; with liberty to pass to and from said vestry." 

1840. A maternal association was formed, which meets once a 
month. At each quarterly meeting the children are permitted to at- 
tend. 

Wenham Pond was anciently designated on the Salem Records as 
" the Great Pond,^^ and it was sometitnes called a " Lake ;" a name by 
which it is now generally known in England. Chastellux, a French 
traveller wlio came through this town in 1732, says, " The rain over- 
took us just as we were passing near the La^e, which is three miles 
from Beverly." The surface of this ])ond measures 320 acres. It con- 
tains pickerel and other fish, which are more sought for by those in 
pursuit of amusement and pleasure, than for profit. In the summer 
season it is the favorite resort of parties from Salem and other places 
for sailing and fishing. " The waters of this pond find a passage 
through a small stream, after running seven or eiglit miles, to Ipswich 
river and from thence to the sea." The ice from this pond is of a su- 
perior quality, and has recently become extensively known and cele- 
brated not only in this country but also in Europe. Operations have 
been commenced by the " Ice Company" on a large scale, and mea- 
sures are being adopted to supply the rapidly increasing demand, 
however great it may be. 

" Wenham Swamp" is in the north-west part of the town, is larere, 
well wooded, and extends into Hamilton. The " Manchester Woods," 
so called, cover a considerable part of the eastern end of Wenham and 
extend into Beverly. 

The population of Wenham, though always small, has been gradual- 
ly increasing. In 1810 the census was 554 ; in 1820,572; in 1830, 
612 ; in 1840, 693 ; it is now thought to be some over 700. The num- 
ber of votes for Governor were in 1785, 18 ; in 1801, 50 ; in 1820, 73 ; 
in 1840, 140 ; and in 1844, 152. There has also been a similar increase 
in the state valuation since the commencement of this century. 

The number of baptisms in town since 1674, (so far as can be ascer- 
tained), is about 2930; number of marriages, 790; admitted to full 
communion in the church, 960 ; and about 1520 — more than double 
our present population — have died. 

Among the oldest legible inscriptions in our grave-yard are the fol- 
lowing : Mrs. Ruth, wife of Ca{)t. Thomas White, died Dec. 13, 1713, 
in the eightieth year of her age. Sarah Balch, died Sept. 30, 1714, 
aged fifteen. Sarah, wife of D. Killam, died 1715. 

The following persons have died in this town at or above the age of 
ninety years : 

1786. Widow Eliot in her ninety-sixth year. 



72 

1795. Died, Barbary Waters, formerly of Salem, aged ninety. Widow ^ 

Cue, ninety-six. Widow Batchelder, ninety-five. 
1810. Abraham Wyatt, ninety. 

1812. Margaret Pierce, a pauper, aged " about 100." 

1813. Martha Ober, ninety-one. 
1819. Widow Batchelder, ninety-six. 
1822. Betty Masury, ninety-six. 

1826. Widow Rose Dodge, ninety-two. Pelatiah Brown, 94. 
1836. Widow Elizabeth Brown, ninety-one years and three months. 



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